Come Jog with Me

Many questions come to mind concerning running and runners and public health.

Here are a few.

1. Why do runners live an estimated 2 to 2.5 years longer than non-runners?

2. Why are runners rarely overweight?

3. Among runners do they have the same incidence of the following problems compared to non-runners that so far the causes of which are basically unknown? Muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, amelanotic lateral sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease?

4. Why do women runners have so much less breast cancer than non-runners?

5. Why do runners have so much stronger bones than non-runners?

6. Why do runners have less atherosclerosis and therefore fewer strokes and coronary and cardiac artery disease?

7. Why do runners have more HDL (good ) cholesterol than non-runners?

8. Why do runners have lower blood pressure than non-runners?

9. Do running women have fewer children who develop Autism than non-running women?

10. Why do runners have better immune systems than non-runners?

11. Does running enhance the production of endomorphnis, serotonin, androgens, estrogens such as oxytocin, ghrlein, and the enzyme troponin and many others?

12. Is there an advantage of the profound sleep that comes to those who exercise as with running and with no insomnia?

George Whitney is a 92 year old retired companion animal veterinarian who practiced for almost 50 years in Orange, Connecticut. He is a graduate of Auburn University, was a Captain in the Veterinary Corps, US Army during WWII and president of and active in many organizations as well as a Selectman in Orange, Connecticut. He took up running at age 80 to get in shape and has been running ever since. He is the author of four books, "This is the Beagle" "The Health and Happiness of your old Dog" "A Time for Action" and "Animal Anecdotes" as well as co-authoring several books with his father Leon F. Whitney. He currently lives in southern Vermont where he can be seen running his daily 5k. George competes regularly in 5k races.