Every Step is Worth It

It’s always been a little dream of mine to stay healthy enough to run well into my later years. I’d love to celebrate my 70′s by running a marathon. New research suggests that by keeping up my running routine I’m promoting this very opportunity. New research from the Copenhagen City Heart study presented at the EuroPRevent2012 meeting reports that jogging can extend life by as much as 6.2 years in men and 5.6 years in women. I’d say that makes a daily jog more than worth it.

Believe it or not, this study began in 1976 with a follow up minimum of 35 years. The difference between joggers and non-joggers is more than noticeable. There were 10,158 deaths registered among the non-joggers group and 122 deaths among the joggers. They reported that the risk of death was reduced by 44% for male joggers and 44% for female joggers.

It’s not uncommon for non-runners to fear getting started out of embarrassment of what others may think or how slow they run. The truth is, whether you run a fast mile or slow mile, the health benefits make every step so worth it! Anyone who would even dream of judging others for working at improved longevity and health wouldn’t be worth associating with anyway.

Lace up those running shoes and go for a jog. If you don’t think you have the time, just remember that you may very well be adding time to your life by doing so!

Can’t run? That’s OK – Start with any form of physical activity. Dr. Schnohr, chief cardiologist of the Copenhagen City Heart Study, suggests to, “aim to feel a little breathless, but not very breathless.”

You can learn more about the study by visiting the European Society of Cardiology.