Xinhua News Agency: A long-term cardiovascular study in Denmark shows that jogging can extend lifespan. Those who jog for more than an hour a week live an average of about 6 years longer than non-runners. Jogging for an hour a week has remarkable effects.
This "Copenhagen City Heart Study" began in 1976, with 19,329 participants aged 20 to 79. Researchers examined participants' cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and body mass index (BMI), and inquired about their smoking and drinking habits, educational background, and income levels.
Researchers found that 1,116 men and 762 women jogged regularly. Researchers asked them about their weekly jogging time and speed, which were categorized as slow, medium, and fast.
Over a period of more than 35 years, 122 joggers and 10,158 non-runners died.
Peter Schnohr, chief cardiovascular expert of the Copenhagen City Heart Study, announced the results at the "EuroPrevent 2012" conference in Dublin, Ireland. The long-term study showed that jogging reduces the risk of death by 44%. In terms of lifespan, the benefits are reflected in male joggers living an average of 6.2 years longer than non-runners, and female joggers living an average of 5.6 years longer than non-runners.
Schnohr said that jogging has many health benefits, including increasing oxygen uptake, improving insulin sensitivity, promoting lipid metabolism, lowering blood pressure, reducing platelet aggregation, promoting fibrinolytic activity, enhancing heart function, preventing obesity, and improving psychological function.