Aging Backwards? Run For It!

Feb 04, 2020 at 07:16 pm by bryan


(MURFREESBORO) Who says that there's no such thing as aging backwards?

Ascension St. Thomas specialists report that a new UK-based study followed 138 men and women with minimal running experience as they completed 6 months of training for their first-ever marathon. Though these beginner runners ranged in age from 21 to 69, the average group member experienced improvements in aortic artery health that correlated to a 4-year reduction in vascular age.

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In fact, older, slower participants tended to experience the most dramatic improvements in "aortic age."

If your personal attitude towards endurance races is "I'm not running unless someone's chasing me," consider the good news that study participants ran, on average, between 6 and 13 miles per week. This indicates that substantial benefits can be experienced from running much shorter distances than a full marathon.

Ascension St. Thomas reminds you to consult your primary care physician before beginning any intensive new exercise regime.

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