Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Running Can Slow the Aging Process

Remember in class when we did chronological age and real age? I bet for those of you that asked exercise and are physically active had a lower real age than your chronological age. Running is just like this; it tends to slow down the again process and keeps you looking and feeling younger than you really are. Researchers from the Stanford University School of Medicine have looked into this and performed a study. They found that elderly runners have fewer disabilities, a longer lifespan of active life, and are half as likely as again non-runners to die early deaths. Running appeared t0 slow the rate of heart and artery related deaths, and was also associated with fewer early deaths from cancer and neurological disease. Along with preventing infection and disease, you'll be able to be more mobil and active as an elder. For many older people, not being able to move around and perform the same activities they did as they were younger is a huge burden, so my advice to you is get out there and run! The aging process is beyond our control, but the rate at which we age is up to us!

http://med.stanford.edu/news_releases/2008/august/running.html

3 comments:

Kristin said...

This blog is very interesting considering my "real age" was 4 years older than I really am and I was lacking in the fitness area. I really don't enjoy running and heard its bad for your knees and especially takes place in later years of peoples lives, but I'm sure any type aerobics and cardio help proglong lives.

Kate said...

This makes a lot of sense since mine "real age" was 13 like yours which is probably due to how often we run. In response to Kristin's comment any exercise can prolong your life so it doesn't specifically have to be running although its one of the best ways to stay healthy and young. If you take care of yourself while running you won't necessarily have knee problems just because other people do. If that’s a really worry for you try swimming which is great cardio with little impact and tons a resistance.

Josh Lamb said...

I knew that running could slow down the aging process but all of the other things that I can prevent or slow down it amazing. If running can give you a better chance of fewer disabilities and a longer life span then the non runners, you would think that almost everyone would run. It is also good that running can slow down heart and artery deaths. I didn’t know that it is associated with fewer early deaths by cancer and neurological disease. So I guess if you want to be able to move when your older you have to run and stay active now.