New findings show that a single hour of running can add seven years to a person’s life. The research was published in the journal Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases and pulled data from more than 55,000 people on health and premature death. The study found running to increase lifespan more than any other type of exercise, and the risk of premature death to be lowered an astonishing 43 percent for runners who engage in other forms of exercise

According to the assistant professor at Iowa State University and the paper’s lead author, Dr. Duck-chul Lee, the study also determined that running exceeded other lifestyle choices in adding to longeivity. Forn instance, smokers who became non-smokers only lowered their risk by 11 percent and people who lose weight lowered their risk by a mere 8 percent.

As reported by the New York Times, if every nonrunner in the study took up the sport, there would be 16 percent fewer deaths and 25 percent fewer fatal heart attacks. The researchers also calculated that, hour for hour, running statistically returns more time to people’s lives than it consumes. By figuring two hours per week, which was an average reported by participants in the study conducted by Cooper Institute, the researchers estimated that a typical runner would spend less than six months running over the course of 40 years but could expect to increase their life expectancy by 3.2 years for a net gain of 2.8 years. This results in the study concluding that one hour of running becomes 7 hours of additional life expectancy.

The data reviewed also shows that prolonged running does not become counterproductive. Additional forms of exercise such as walking and cycling require the same exertion as running but typically drop the risk of premature death by 12 percent. Some of the bias may be that runners typically lead healthy lives and their lifestyle choices may be playing an important role.

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In addition to health benefits, running makes you happier. The “runner’s high” is a rush of feel-good hormones known as endocannabinoids. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise published a study that found 30 minutes of walking on a treadmill lifted the moods of someone who suffers from a major depressive order. Another study by the Journal of Adolescent Health proved that 30 minutes of running during the week boosted sleep quality, mood and concentration. In fact, runners often refer to the sport as a “drug” because it causes the neurochemical adaptation in the brain to reward pathways shared by addictive drugs.

While researchers continue to study the long term benefits of running, there continues to be evidence that exercise adds years to your life — and makes you happier while living longer.

The benefits of exercise have been promoted for years as a way to lower unhealthy cholesterol, lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of stroke and to also help control blood sugar levels. While exercise may do more than trim your waist, there are some inherent benefits to exercise that go much deeper than a list of disease prevention. A recent study by PLoS Medicine concludes that 150 minutes per week of exercise adds 3.4 years to the average lifespan. However, only 50 percent of American adults get at least 150 minutes of aerobic exercise a week. While many are registered as healthy: 65 percent aren’t obese, 65 percent get at least seven hours of sleep and 83 percent don’t smoke, they are missing out on a few critical benefits of exercise that lead to healthier and happier lives.

The Heart of the Matter

The first thing the nurse does in an intensive care unit is turn off the EKG monitor because the heart can go on writing across the screen, and sometimes it still pumps blood after the body stops. The heart is the strongest organ, a continuously pumping machine, and it need the limits to be tested frequently through exercise. While the body as a whole is assisted by exercise, the heart and blood vessels are helped the most. Bad cholesterol known as LDL and triglycerides decrease while HDL (the good cholesterol) increases. Exercise also lowers blood pressure and makes the body more sensitive to insulin, which lowers blood glucose. It prevents platelets from clotting and leading to strokes or heart attacks. It also reduces the markers of body-wide inflammation and slows calcium in the artery walls. People who exercise frequently also have a lower resting heart rate.

In fact, exercise is so important for the heart as an organ that the risk of cardiovascular death is half of someone who doesn’t exercise at all, according to an analysis from studies in the United States, Europe and Taiwan. The mortality rate in this study bottoms out with nine hours of moderate exercise or 4.8 hours of vigorous exercise.

Brains over Bronze

Although many take to the gym to improve their appearance, scientists have proven that the runner’s high and yogi’s buzz have profound effects on the brain. The brain structure of the hippocampus is proven to grow as people get more fit, and because the hippocampus is at the core of the brain’s learning and memory systems, cardiovascular fitness has improved memory-boosting effects. Executive control also improves. Research shows that physical activity enhances cognitive functions, specifically executive functions in late middle-aged individuals with significant improvement when assessing cognitive flexibility.

Workouts do not need to be extreme to help brain health as 30–45 minutes of brisk walking, three times a week, has been proven to delay the onset of dementia. Research has also proven that the level of tau, a protein associated with Alzheimer’s, fell in those who exercised vigorously.

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Diabetes, Cancer & Osteoporosis … Oh My

There are many other diseases you can prevent through exercise. The evidence is staggering with the risk of diabetes lowered by 30%, colon cancer risk reduced by 24% in men, and lung cancer risk reduced by 20%. Exercise also helps to slow bone loss and keep joint cartilage healthy. As Michael J. Blaha, a preventative cardiologist at Johns Hopkins Hospital says, “It’s really hard to find something that is not improved with exercise. Everyone can benefit from it. Even at a higher age, when you’re at increased risk of dying, exercise is able to add time to your life.”

In addition to health benefits, exercise makes you happier. The “runner’s high” is a rush of feel-good hormones known as endocannabinoids. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise published a study that found 30 minutes of walking on a treadmill lifted the moods of someone who suffers from a major depressive order. Another study by the Journal of Adolescent Health proved that 30 minutes of running during the week boosted sleep quality, mood and concentration. In fact, athletes often refer to sports as a “drug” because it causes the neurochemical adaptation in the brain to reward pathways shared by addictive drugs.

While researchers continue to study the long term benefits of running, there continues to be evidence that exercise adds years to your life — and makes you happier while living longer.

CitizenTekk is giving away a free Bluetooth tracker combo pack. Enter here.

While virtual reality, artificial intelligence and autonomous cars are vying for investment dollars and histrionic attention among tech enthusiasts, it may be creating an information vacuum for those located inside the tech bubble. It’s captivating to think about robots doing the dishes and cars driving themselves down the interstate. Technology that alters our reality continues to attract top talent, including engineers and new graduates. However, on a more practical level, there are plenty of problems to solve in our current reality — and plenty of innovation that solves daily, minute problems.

As we continue to accumulate more things — smartphones, tablets, laptops, and other valuables — we introduce more opportunities to lose them. According to the Census, there were over 139 million workers commuting in 2014. Which means we are more on the go than ever before. Bluetooth tracking can help to alleviate the risk of losing valuable items. Instead of using Bluetooth only for headsets, speakers and computer peripherals, a tiny tracker can be attached to small tags to be used for things such as instrument cases, gear, purses, and electronics. The tags are tracked via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) by forming a radio-based link with your belongings.

For most trackers, the BLE system causes the Bluetooth tracker to stay in communication with an app on your smartphone. The tracker can also communicate with your phone, should you lose this instead. Also depending on the tracker you choose, it will either emit a sound when you need to locate an item or when the item strays from the tracking tag. With that said, Bluetooth is not the same as GPS devices. While Bluetooth trackers can tell you the last place you had access, it can’t necessarily tell you if the bag is still there until you are within range. Bluetooth is proximity-based and a suitable solution for valuables such as wallets, keys and electronics where you have some idea where you last left them (home, office, restaurant). It’s not the best choice if you are protecting a sports car or expensive camera equipment that is likely to be stolen when you are not aware.

This week, CitizenTekk is giving away a Bluetooth tracker combo set from a company called Tile. For more information and to enter to win, click here.

Product History:

In fall of 2015, Hudway Glass held a successful Kickstarter campaign raising over $600,000 from approximately 9,000 backers resulting in 11,000 units shipped. The following year, in 2016, the company began to sell the product in retail stores. While some reviews have been mixed, the price is quite low for this level of technology at $50 per unit — and anything that keeps a driver’s eyes on the road is a valiant effort in and of itself.

Click here to enter the CitizenTekk HUDWAY Glass Giveaway now through May 14th.

Globally, on a broader scale, air pollution is an epidemic with some areas in China recording air quality of 1000 PM 2.5. To put this in perspective, PM 2.5 are fine particles less than 2.5 micrometres in diameter that can lodge in the lungs and get into the bloodstream. The World Health Organization says anything over 25 PM 2.5 is a health hazard. Meanwhile, in India, the air purifier industry is growing at 45% CAGR and will increase to 55–50% CAGR in the next four years, according to Quartz.

Air purifiers can offer a high-tech solution by removing impurities such as dust particles (including PM 2.5 particles — which cause the most damage to human health), pollen, smoke and other airborne irritants. Some air purifiers go further to remove particles from the air all of the way to PM 0.007. This helps to not only provide uncontaminated air but also reduces allergic reaction and asthma attacks. LifeAir, a fast-growing Swedish company, is capable of removing such particles down to PM 0.007. This technology addresses more than 90% of all particles in the air. The IonFlow air purifiers also neutralize more than 97% of viruses in the air helping to protect against influenza, bacteria and other microbes. The three options offered by LifeAir are stylish and add to the décor while bridging the gap offered to consumers as a device that enhances both personal health and environment.

Click here to enter the CitizenTekk LifeAir Giveaway now through May 7th.

While this growth continues on par with projections, the wearables market is softening. Smartwatches have been pummeled recently with Pebble closing its door, Fitbit (the company that acquired Pebble) reporting losses, and GoPro also reporting declining sales. Perhaps the TOKK Smart Speaker has the answer: marry the convenience of a smart speaker with the functionality of a wearable. By tapping the TOKK device, you can activate the voice control systems such as Siri or Google Assistant. The wearable speaker also lets you answer calls while working out or in situations where you need a hands-free solution.

Want to try the TOKK Smart Speaker?

CitizenTekk is giving away 3 TOKK speakers April 24th-April 30th 2017.