Running May Not Be So Good for You, And Other Questionable Healthy Habits
Bad news for running fanatics: The sport hailed for losing weight, reducing stress, and lowering blood pressure may also end your life early. High-mileage runners (those who run more than two and a half hours per week) as well as non-runners die earlier than moderate runners, (those who run about two and a half hours per week), according to a study of almost 4,000 men and women presented Sunday at the American College of Cardiology's annual meeting in Washington, D.C.
"Moderate runners can reduce their mortality rates by anywhere from 25 to 40 percent and could add as many as six years to their life," study co-author James O'Keefe, director of preventive cardiology at the Mid-America Heart Institute in Kansas City, Missouri tells Yahoo Shine. One theory is that too much running puts stress on the body, which can kick off a domino effect of damage. And that chronic, extreme exercise may “remodel” the heart, which could cancel out some benefits of running. "We absolutely don't want to discourage people from exercising," says O'Keefe. "The key is to balance cardio with other forms of exercise, such as yoga and strength-training."
While the research is considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal, it’s still disheartening for people who start their mornings with a long run, and assume it's good for them.