Running Could Boost Mortality Risk, Study

Intense jogging or running for workout ups mortality risk, a new study claims.

The risk of dying from running four hours a week is as much as the risk of dying to lack of exercise, according to TIME. Those who ran less than two and half hours a week had lowered risk.

"Light and moderate joggers have lower mortality than sedentary nonjoggers, whereas strenuous joggers have a mortality rate not statistically different from that of the sedentary group," researchers concluded in a study published in the Journal of American College of Cardiology.

The study involved data from more than 1,000 people and was carried out over a 12 years during which the subjects were followed. Researchers obtained through questionnaires. The study found that the ideal pace of jogging was 5 mph.

Those who jogged more than thrice a week or faster than 7 mph were as much in risk as couch potatoes of dying, BBC reports.

Researchers also point out that excessive workout like running can cause changes in the structure and function of heart and blood vessels. The study points out that even brisk walking can be sufficient workout if done for about 150 minutes a week.