Intense physical activity could potentially extend your lifespan without putting excessive strain on your heart

Researchers have discovered that individuals who can run a mile in less than 4 minutes tend to live longer than expected, despite concerns about the potential negative effects of extreme exercise on heart health. A study conducted by Stephen Foulkes and his team at the University of Alberta in Canada examined the lifespans of the first 200 athletes who achieved this impressive feat.

The study focused on male athletes born between 1928 and 1955, including the renowned Roger Bannister, who was the first person to run a sub-4-minute mile. The results showed that those who accomplished this milestone outlived the general population by an average of 4.7 years. Specifically, athletes who achieved the feat in the 1950s lived more than nine years longer than the general population, while those in the 1960s and 1970s lived 5.5 and 3 years longer, respectively.

Mark Haykowsky, another team member, suggested that the overall improvement in the health of the general population over time may have influenced these results. The study challenges the notion that extreme exercise is harmful, as the athletes demonstrated a high-capacity system in their hearts, lungs, and muscles that may contribute to their longevity.

However, Thijs Eijsvogels from Radboud University in the Netherlands cautioned that these findings do not completely refute the idea that long-term, high-intensity exercise could have negative effects on the heart. While the study highlights the potential benefits of extreme exercise for certain individuals, further research is needed to fully understand its impact on overall health outcomes.