Simple fitness test could predict long-term risk for heart attack

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Came across this article on Dailymile.com, thought it was interesting enough to share.

Simple fitness test could predict long-term risk for heart attack, stroke in middle-aged people, researchers find

In two separate studies, UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers have found that how fast a middle-age person can run a mile can help predict the risk of dying of heart attack or stroke decades later for men and could be an early indicator of cardiovascular disease for women.

RoyMcC

I wish I could be one of these 'researchers' that gets paid a fortune for coming up with the bleedin' obvious. How do you get those jobs

TheRoadRunner

RoyMcC wrote: »

I wish I could be one of these 'researchers' that gets paid a fortune for coming up with the bleedin' obvious. How do you get those jobs

yeah it probably is stating the obvious but what's interesting in this study is they are able to show how beneficial fitness is in nice round numbers. For example, a 55 yr old man who can run a mile in 8 mins has a 20% less risk of cardiovascular disease compared to a man who can only run a mile in 15 minutes. Really shows the benefits of staying active and healthy.

Bigcheeze

TheRoadRunner wrote: »

yeah it probably is stating the obvious but what's interesting in this study is they are able to show how beneficial fitness is in nice round numbers. For example, a 55 yr old man who can run a mile in 8 mins has a 20% less risk of cardiovascular disease compared to a man who can only run a mile in 15 minutes. Really shows the benefits of staying active and healthy.

Only 20%? 8 minute mile is very fit for a 55 year old.

RoyMcC

Can't actually disagree RR. Though, to be pedantic, I'd say that research shows that the unfit bloke has three times more chance of a heart attack than the fit one. I'm keepin' on runnin'...

Now if someone will sponsor me I'll try to prove that the earth is round

AntiVirus

RoyMcC wrote: »

Now if someone will sponsor me I'll try to prove that the earth is round

Round! Yeah right, lol

plodder

Bigcheeze wrote: »

Only 20%? 8 minute mile is very fit for a 55 year old.

it's 8 minute mile on a treadmill though :pac:

Clearlier

Pedant alert!

Took a quick look at the article. It says that a 55 year old who takes 15 mins to run a mile (now that's unfit!) has a 30% lifetime risk of developing heart disease wherease a 55 year old taking 8 minutes to run a mile has a lifetime risk of 10%. While I can see where you got the 20% from it's actually a 67% lower chance for the faster person of developing heart disease.

Also, I disagree that the ability to run an 8min mile means a 55 year old is very fit. Almost any healthy 55 year old who exercises regularly would be able to do that (not saying that most Irish 55 year old people could). We're talking about a single mile - not a marathon.

TheRoadRunner

Clearlier wrote: »

Pedant alert!

Took a quick look at the article. It says that a 55 year old who takes 15 mins to run a mile (now that's unfit!) has a 30% lifetime risk of developing heart disease wherease a 55 year old taking 8 minutes to run a mile has a lifetime risk of 10%. While I can see where you got the 20% from it's actually a 67% lower chance for the faster person of developing heart disease.

My bad. Pedants rule

RoyMcC wrote: »

Now if someone will sponsor me I'll try to prove that the earth is round

Pedant alert 2. I thought the earth was very slightly egg shaped not round

drdoon

plodder wrote: »

it's 8 minute mile on a treadmill though :pac:

Yep, it's different on the road. The treadmill has to have an incline of at least 2 to mimic real road conditions as far as I am aware!

djmcr

TheRoadRunner wrote: »

Pedant alert 2. I thought the earth was very slightly egg shaped not round

An oblong spheroid

drdoon

Just stay reasonably fit and you'll be ok. Have a nice day

Pherekydes

djmcr wrote: »

An oblong spheroid

Oblate. :cool:

slowsteady

Bigcheeze wrote: »

Only 20%? 8 minute mile is very fit for a 55 year old.

I ran a 5 mile last week at 7.06 - does that make me very fit? Hobbling for a few days afterwards I did not feel the least bit athletic and would be slow to describe myself that way.

True, I'm only 54 (55 in two weeks:)) but as an expert (right age ) I can say 'very fit' above should to be changed to 'fit'.

While the average fitness of Irish people is declining most would get to an 8-minute-mile with a modicum of training provided they were not carrying excessive weight to start with.

The study was based on a cohort of average Americans so would not translate over here for another 10-15 years.

Conclusion - I could do well in the States:D