NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Joggers are not only unlikely to drop dead of a heart attack during their morning run, they are also less likely than non-runners to die of any cause, according to Danish researchers.

In a study of more than 4,600 men aged 20 to 79, regular joggers were 63% less likely than other men to die over 5 years. But occasional runs did not cut it: only men who jogged at the study's start and were still at it 5 years later had a lower death risk. Researchers led by Dr. Peter Schnohr of the University Hospital in Copenhagen report the findings in the September 9th issue of the British Medical Journal.

Schnohr and his colleagues note that while jogging has become increasingly popular over the past 30 years, there is some public concern over reports of people dying while jogging. However, the authors report, this study shows that regular joggers boast a significantly lower risk of dying. The jogging benefit was strong even after the investigators accounted for health factors such as smoking, drinking, blood pressure, cholesterol, and body mass.

The joggers' lower death risk could be a direct effect of the exercise, Schnohr's team writes. In addition, these men may have led more healthy lifestyles in general. The researchers note that although exercise is key to good health, it is unclear how long, how often, and how intensely people should work out in order to reap the greatest benefits.

This study, they conclude, suggests that while light exercise ``has some value,'' moderate and intense exercise, such as jogging, may be more likely to help us live longer.

(From Yahoo!)