How fast you run a mile predicts how heart-healthy you’ll be in your old age, according to a new study by the Stanford, Northwestern University, Cooper Institute in Dallas and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. These two studies encompassed more than 66,000 people and found overwhelming evidence that looking at how a middle-aged person runs a mile predicts cholesterol, blood pressure and other measures of health later in life.
So What Does This Mean?
Researchers followed men from the time they were 45 to 90 years of age, measuring their ability to run a mile periodically over the years. Here’s that they found:
- Low fitness at 45 had a lifetime risk for cardiovascular death of 13.7 percent.
- High fitness at 45 had a lifetime risk for cardiovascular death of 3.4 percent.
- Low fitness at 55 had a 34.2 percent chance of dying of cardiovascular disease.
- High fitness at 55 had a 15.3 percent chance of dying of cardiovascular disease.
- Low fitness at 65 had a 35.6 percent chance of cardiovascular death.
- High fitness at 65 had a 17.1 percent chance of cardiovascular death.
What Is “Low” Fitness Vs. “High” Fitness?
According to researchers, fitness levels can be gauged using these metrics for running a mile:
- High Fitness (Men): 8 minutes or less
- Moderate Fitness (Men): 9 minutes
- Low Fitness (Men): Over 10 minutes
- High Fitness (Women): 9 minutes or less
- Moderate Fitness (Women): 10.5 minutes or less
- Low Fitness (Women): Over 12 minutes
With each minute, there is a dramatic increase in heart risk, according to researchers.
The Moral Of The Story
It’s not too late for you! Get running… and train yourself to run faster! How you maintain your health over your last few decades really matters in relation to heart health.
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| Article: Jennn Fusion
Twitter: @jennnfusion |
