Running makes you live longer

n-dawg

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7554293.stm


I think any runner could have told you this... Im constantly shocked at imra races when people who look like there in there 40's turn out to be in there 50's or 60's.

monkeypants

No surprise there. I'm sick of meeting oul fellas who could run me into the ground.

InTheTrees

"They also enjoyed a healthier life with fewer disabilities, the Stanford University Medical Center team found."

Ha! Lets see, I did something to my achilles, then there was the shin splints, then I pulled my oblique, then I pulled it again, then I thought I'd dislocated my shoulder...

I think part of the fun of running is learning about my physiology as I progressively injure every part of my body.

earlyevening

In the long term, serious runners will develop a larger left ventricle than non runners as they need to pump more blood around their bodies. This condition (cardiomegaly) can lead to heart failure if you are unlucky.

So the news isn't all good.

(Am still going to keep running)

Edit, here's a link
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athletic_heart_syndrome

RodSteel

earlyevening wrote: »

In the long term, serious runners will develop a larger left ventricle than non runners as they need to pump more blood around their bodies. This condition (cardiomegaly) can lead to heart failure if you are unlucky.

So the news isn't all good.

(Am still going to keep running)

Edit, here's a link
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athletic_heart_syndrome

I believe enlargement of the left ventricle due to AHS(Athletic Heart Syndrome) is not a real concern and does not require treatment.
The genetic condition of hypertrophy cardiomyopathy which is the thickening of the heart walls is a real concern and does require treatment.

T runner

Ive heard that running slows the production of free-radicals which cause aging and can cause cancers.

earlyevening

RodSteel wrote: »

I believe enlargement of the left ventricle due to AHS(Athletic Heart Syndrome) is not a real concern and does not require treatment.
The genetic condition of hypertrophy cardiomyopathy which is the thickening of the heart walls is a real concern and does require treatment.

Yeah, its not a real serious concern. I'm only reading the link I posted now (!) I do have some memory of hearing that it has a low risk of eventual heart failure though in people with no underlying arrythmia in their heart.

Free radicals etc. No idea. Sounds good though.

RodSteel

earlyevening wrote: »

Yeah, its not a real serious concern. I'm only reading the link I posted now (!) I do have some memory of hearing that it has a low risk of eventual heart failure though in people with no underlying arrythmia in their heart.

Free radicals etc. No idea. Sounds good though.

You have the same outlook as myself (it would never have stopped me either), still keep runnning !

ecoli

I think that this research ommits one major element. Runners in general have healthier lifestyle. They are doing their best to ensure optimum performance as a result they are more concious of there diet sleep patterns etc. This is evident even on this forum where we see people looking for not only training advice but also lifestyle advice to impact on there performance
This study does not mention this fact and as a result i find it hard to derive that exercise is the sole reason for this and all factors must be taken into account

baza1976

Slightly off topic........ but some posts there regarding an "athletic heart". I was at a cardiologist recently and he warned me against this. he told me it wasn't something that I'd (or anyone) want.

This is where I remind people that they should go get an ECG carried out by their GP. It costs less than a "fancy" pair of runners and takes 10 min. I had run 5 marathons, played countless soccer nad rugby matches before I found out I had WPW syndrome. It's all good now, straight forward heart procedure sorted it out.............. But them fancy shoes you buy are no good to you if you have an underlying condition.

hunnymonster

Sombre but worthwhile post Baza. It's great that you got sorted and even better than you can continue running, I remember our conversations around the Cork marathon when that was not at all a given.

plodder

ecoli wrote: »

I think that this research ommits one major element. Runners in general have healthier lifestyle. They are doing their best to ensure optimum performance as a result they are more concious of there diet sleep patterns etc. This is evident even on this forum where we see people looking for not only training advice but also lifestyle advice to impact on there performance
This study does not mention this fact and as a result i find it hard to derive that exercise is the sole reason for this and all factors must be taken into account

That's probably a fair point, but I think it's their point maybe, that the running lifestyle in general leads to these benefits. Also, the amount of running involved wasn't that huge - an average of 4 hours per week at the start (in their fifties) decreasing to just over an hour a week 20 years later.

On the risks of heart problems, it makes sense for people to get checked out, specially as you get older. But, the figures in these studies are based on a big enough sample (over 500 participants). So, it would tend to take account of all the possible negative affects as well as the benefits.

RodSteel

baza1976 wrote: »

Slightly off topic........ but some posts there regarding an "athletic heart". I was at a cardiologist recently and he warned me against this. he told me it wasn't something that I'd (or anyone) want.

Baz, if your cardiologist warned you (or anyone) against getting an "athletic heart", did he say how to avoid it?
I understand the way to avoid/stop it, is to avoid running.
I have this condition for many years and I would guess most serious/regular runners that post here would have it too.
Is he advising against athletic exercise/running because AHS is a general symptom of athletes/runners?
Or was I reading it wrong, rather that he is advising you personally against it as you have had a cardiac condition?

silverharp

at the extreme end, do marathon runners etc. endup with very poor joints?

baza1976

RodSteel wrote: »

Baz, if your cardiologist warned you (or anyone) against getting an "athletic heart", did he say how to avoid it?
I understand the way to avoid/stop it, is to avoid running.
I have this condition for many years and I would guess most serious/regular runners that post here would have it too.
Is he advising against athletic exercise/running because AHS is a general symptom of athletes/runners?
Or was I reading it wrong, rather that he is advising you personally against it as you have had a cardiac condition?

Hi Rod,

No, he didn't say anything how to avoid it. He just mentioned it wasn't a good thing to have, for anybody to have. It was just a general chat about marathon running and the pro's and cons. He didn't advise not to run, in fact after the procedure he told me that when I feel up to it I can go and do what i was doing and more.

How do you know you have an AH? I think if you are concerned you should go to your GP

B

RoyNeary

Athletic Heart is common in almost anyone that exercises more than 1 hour per day. That doesn't mean it's a problem.

gerard65

RoyNeary wrote: »

Athletic Heart is common in almost anyone that exercises more than 1 hour per day. That doesn't mean it's a problem.

Correct. A thicking of the heart wall is very common in endurance athletes. Its a problem when its a genetic issue. A quick google will give you all the explainations.

RodSteel

baza1976 wrote: »

How do you know you have an AH? I think if you are concerned you should go to your GP

B

Hi Baz,

A cardiologist told me a number of years ago when I was getting checked(ecg and echocardiogram) out for chest pains. It turned out the chest pains were not heart related.
He told me that it is nothing to be concerned about.