Running and Health

Dr. Feldman reports no financial relationships relevant to this field of study.

SUMMARY POINTS

* Runners have a 25-40% reduced risk of premature death (even after controlling for multiple variables) and significantly lower risks of cardiovascular disease and some cancers.* On average, runners live three years longer than non-runners.* The effect of running on cardiorespiratory fitness may be key to understanding the health benefits of running.* It remains unclear if there is a “running threshold” over which frequency adversely affects health, but the health benefits appear to flatten at over 4.5 hours or 30 miles weekly.

SOURCE: Lee DC, Brellenthin AG, Thompson PD, et al. Running as a key lifestyle medicine for longevity. Prog Cardiovasc Dis 2017;60:45-55.

The roots of running as a sport are deep, dating back to ancient Greece and the original Olympic Games.¹ In 1896, the first organized marathon was run at the first modern Olympic Games. This race was created with a nod to the myth of Pheidippides, an ancient Greek long-distance running courier. According to legend, Pheidippides ran 25 miles from Marathon to Athens carrying news of victory in battle but died just after his proclamation, making him perhaps one of the most famous cases of sudden death associated with running.² Today, we know that physical activity is linked with a number of significant health benefits, including a reduction in all-cause mortality. Investigators are studying the intensity and type of exercise needed to maximize benefits as well as any adverse effects of intensive physical activity.³

In 2014, Lee et al published a study involving running, all-cause mortality, and cardiovascular mortality in more than 55,000 adults. The results pointed to a reduction in mortality with even minimal levels of running.⁴ To address unanswered questions from the original 2014 study, Lee et al reviewed other related studies and conduct a meta-analysis. Among the stated goals of this comprehensive work were the following: review the effect of running on specific health conditions and longevity; explore the specificity of running vs. other physical activities to health; explore mechanisms behind the health benefits; quantify any additional life expectancy associated with running; and investigate any evidence linking attenuation of health benefits with higher rates of running.

The Effect of Running on Longevity...