Thanks.

What articles like these fail (most of the time) to point out that in many cases if the person hadn't worked out regularly they likely would have been dead years earlier. So they were still able to prolong their life. One cannot do too much with the genetics you are born with.

<<to point out that in many cases if the person hadn't worked out regularly they likely would have been dead years earlier>>

What is your evidence?

"What articles like these fail (most of the time) to point out that in many cases if the person hadn't worked out regularly they likely would have been dead years earlier. So they were still able to prolong their life. One cannot do too much with the genetics you are born with."

Good point and I'm glad you made it.

It all kinda reminds me of laying in the ER after I got slammed by a car on my bike 3 years ago. The doc says, "if you weren't in such great shape from all your cycling, you'd probably be dead." My labored reply, "yes doc, the bicycle is definately reponsible for the condition I'm in."

My antennae are more extended when I ride my bike now, as a direct result of that accident. I think that's the good about articles like these. It never hurts to be aware of things. Of course, this article could make one say, "what the heck ... might as well skip the workout and go get a pizza with extra cheese."

Bob C.

I have fallen into the trap of, "oh I work out so I can eat some crap". Crap food is crap food and will clog your arteries no matter what kind of shape you are in. Or at least that is how I try and think of it in order to stay away from the stuff.
Glad to see you overcame the accident. :)

My orthopod, after looking at a picture of my "exploded" ACL (he runs marathons) had this to say to me:

"Well, I should tell you that you should not run so much. But if by running less or stopping you end up doing spending more time on the couch I guess that would be worse. So keep running."

I'm sure you are aware of the ev=ffects of exercise on skeletal muscle...increased mitochondria, increased arterial flow to the muscles and cells.

Same thing happens in the heart, increased blood flow and increased number of small vessels.

Hence the heart is able to withstand a "heart attack" better than if the person were a couch potato.

clot blocks one vessel...couch potato dies clot blocks one vessel in heart with 10 times greater blood flow..death is less likely

 after fiennes had his bypass (around 6 months) i think he ran 1 marathon in more than 5 countries i think....1 even in egypt and in the himalayas i think..read the article in one of the issues of runners world..

---

"Pain is NOT temporary,you remember every bit of it"

I'm not surprised one bit. I agree that exercise can add life to your years but not necessarily years to your life.

It's a combination of nutrition, exercise, lifestyle, mental well being, genetic mapping and most importantly just plain luck. I'm convinced my two daily glasses of red wine will do probably more good for my heart than any other one thing.

It's funny that the article uses Don Whillans as an example. The 52 year old mountaineer was 50-60 lbs overweight (and he was only 5'3")in the last few years of his life. I don't know if he ate much but he sure drank a lot of beer.

The question that is unasked of course is whether Feinnes' family had a history of heart disease.

"The question that is unasked of course is whether Feinnes' family had a history of heart disease. "

Good point. Remember Jim Fixx?

check with the doc before starting any serious workout program...