Go figure...

[Prune]

So an odd thing happened in the week. I went for an appointment with my GP, who despite a habit of ending our chats with a reminder not to self medicate with alcohol (am the ultimate light weight, with about 2-3 G&Ts per week, if that, so have no idea what it is about me that inspires this warning), seems perfectly normal.

As I have a habit of over sharing (hello perfect strangers to whom I regularly disclose my inmost thoughts !), I mentioned the C25K plan and that I'd just ran for 20 minutes the previous weekend. Thought this would be greeted by mild approval. Instead of which, he cautions me against getting fanatical and taking too much exercise, citing a mortality U shaped graph that is a well known phenomenon. Basically serious athletes have apparently the same risk of mortality as those on the couch. Cautions against becoming a marathon runner (now one of my definite life goals, BTW).

Bemused, I went home and looked up the graph. The first hit on Google was an article about the dangers of poor studies and/or journalists misreporting data they couldn't properly interpret. Essentially the sample size wasn't anything like comprehensive enough to extrapolate those findings from.

I just think in the world we live in, the pressure on the NHS etc etc, the very last person you think would discourage you from exercising would be your GP. It's crazy!

Right, rant over. W6R2 calls tonight. Who said doctors know it all!

[runswithdogs Graduate]

Eh. That's terrible. I've had a massage therapist lecture me about running and how she didn't approve. Never went back to her. Most of my other medical personnel have been good. My chiro did mention that an injury is likely at some point, but she said the health benefits AND mental benefits out weigh that risk. For many of us, running is the first exercise we've latched on to for awhile (or first we've ever enjoyed). Deflating our balloon does us no good, and ignores the physical and mental benefits. If running at my level had the same mortality rate as staying on the couch I'd still run. I can run up flights of stairs, hike better, have a great stress reliever and am proud of my accomplishments. Doctors should be encouraging this.

[turnturtle Graduate]

Not me! Doctors can have the same negative outlook on life as 'mere mortals' Some also seem to think that just because they went to medical school they are experts on every subject under the sun. Find yourself another GP. You don't need negativity. Thank God for Google. No wonder doctors don't like their patients using it!

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

The reports I heard on the radio said that if you ran upwards of eight marathons a year, at a fast competitive pace, then you might increase your risk of certain heart conditions. Most recreational runners are doing themselves more good than harm and your GP needs to be educated. One report apparently showed an increase in death risk for runners, but the sample was small, included the death of one runner and the cause of death was not even taken into consideration.......he might have got hit by a bus.

I am not one for conspiracy theories, but I do wonder if some of these sensationalist stories are cooked up by junk food firms, just to keep people slobbing out on the couch. Tell your GP about the improved quality of your life and ask him to conduct a survey of his own patients to justify his bigotry.

Keep running, keep smiling.!!!!