You can't outrun death, but apparently you can put some distance between it and you. A just-published 21-year study of older runners found that they lived longer, healthier lives than nonjogging peers.

Researchers at Stanford University tracked 538 members of a U.S. running club and 423 nonrunners, starting in 1984. They found that runners 50 and older had less heart disease and avoided physical disability an average of 16 years longer than their sedentary counterparts.

"We've all come to know that exercise is good for you, and the bottom line is it's even better than we thought," study author James Fries (a 69-year-old runner, himself) told Bloomberg.com. "If you have to pick a key thing that makes people healthier as they age, it's aerobic exercise."

The study reports that runners were less likely to die from cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in the United States. Just over 5 percent of the runners died from stroke or heart disease during the study compared with 10.2 percent of the nonrunning group. Similar results were posted for cancer-related deaths.

Researchers say that once all of the study participants have died, the longevity difference between the two groups will work out to about four more years of life for runners.

GET ME THAT. STAT!

According to a study in the New England Journal of Medicine, 66 percent of blood transfusions are potentially unnecessary. Heart-surgery patients who receive transfusions are 23 percent more likely to experience postoperative complications than those who undergo "bloodless" surgery.

NEVER SAY DIET

The world's speed-eating record for baked beans is 84 ounces in 1 minute, 52 seconds, held by Dale Boone.

NUMBER CRUNCHER

A Twinkie (42 grams) contains 150 calories, 40 from fat. That's 7 percent of the recommended total fat intake for a 2,000-calorie daily diet.

It also contains 20 milligrams of cholesterol (7 percent), 220 mg of sodium (9 percent), 27 grams of total carbohydrates (9 percent), 19 g of sugar and 1 g of protein.

MEDTRONICA

Scuba doc

scuba-doc.com

Before you dive into the deep, it might be worthwhile to take a dip here. This website covers the many health considerations and questions related to scuba diving. Take a self-grading quiz to see if you're physically fit. Read ways to reduce the chances of getting an arterial gas embolism. There's even guidance on how to dive safely if you have diabetes.

STORIES FOR THE WAITING ROOM

First published 150 years ago, "Gray's Anatomy" was among the first of its kind — a richly illustrated, readable medical textbook on human anatomy. Henry Gray, a surgeon and lecturer at St. George's Hospital in London, gets all of the credit, but the distinctive drawings were the work of his collaborator, a fellow anatomist named Henry Vandyke Carter, whose name was removed from the book's title in 1909 for reasons unknown.

"Gray's Anatomy" is still published today, and in dozens of languages, but the modern version scarcely resembles the work of Gray and Carter. The 39th edition is much bulkier and more detailed (thanks to medical progress). And Carter's wood-block illustrations have largely been replaced by scans, photos, other drawings and a CD-ROM with nine "fully rotatable, strippable anatomical models."

PHOBIA OF THE WEEK

Iatrophobia — fear of going to the doctor or of doctors

OBSERVATION

I tended to faint when I saw accident victims in the emergency ward, during surgery, or while drawing blood.

— American novelist and screenwriter Michael Crichton on why he stopped studying to become a doctor

HEALTHY QUOTE

" ... (N)obody can be in good health if he does not have all the time fresh air, sunshine and good water."

— Flying Hawk, Oglala Sioux chief, 1852-1931

DON'T TUNE IN — TURN OFF AND DROP OFF

Tossing and turning at night? Then turn off the TV and computer. Heavy users of electronic media right before bed (3.5 hours or more) were almost twice as likely to report poor sleep quality than lighter users (2.5 hours or less), despite getting the same amount of nightly shut-eye, according to a study at Japan's Osaka University. To ensure a good night's rest, spend more time reading before bed and record shows to watch earlier in the day.

CURB INTAKE OF ZINC SUPPLEMENTS

If you're popping zinc supplements to ward off a cold, stick to the recommended dosage, or better yet, get your zinc from food. Researchers found that the eye deposits seen in people with age-related macular degeneration, the top cause of blindness in Americans over age 60, contain high levels of zinc. It's not clear that the problem is from supplements, but they advise playing it safe. For now, boost your immunity with zinc-rich foods like oysters, beef and pinto beans.

— Compiled by R.J. Ignelzi

To find out more about Scott Lafee and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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