Run, Run, Run...or at least jog once in a while!

In August 2014, the Journal of the American College of Cardiology released a study that suggested running helps our heart.  Well, duh!  But, the good news is, even patients who ran less than 51 minutes a week had significant health benefits.  

The current guidelines by a variety of societies recommend 30 minutes or more of exercise 5-7 times per week.  But, in this busy world, who has time for all that?  This study looked at 55,000+ adults over 15 years who reported their running activity and found that in general, runners had "significantly lower risks of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality compared to non-runners."  More exciting - the mortality benefit (less early deaths) "was similar for all runners regardless of the total running time, including for those who ran less than 51 minutes per week."   

"...These data support the concept that even small amounts of exercise are better than no exercise...."  So, if you can't get to the gym on a daily basis, do your best to hit the pavement for one hour per week of jogging and reap the rewards of a longer, healthier life!