Death by exercise
Reposted from Men’s Health: Hundreds of guys — including some of the world’s fittest men — have taken their final breaths while wearing running shoes. Here’s how to outsmart the reaper –
Guy goes out for a run. It’s just a 4-miler–nothing, really, to a seasoned marathoner who usually runs 10 miles a day, 7 days a week. Nobody knows why he stops 40 or 50 yards short of his front door–maybe he’s checking his pulse, maybe he’s tying a shoe–but everybody knows what happens next to Jim Fixx, the 52-year-old patron saint of running: He dies. (more…)
Physical activity reduces stroke risk
Family physicians have a major responsibility to their patients to help them promote their general health, both physical and mental. Patients tend to require more frequent visits as they age, giving multiple possibilities for physicians to apply the latest medical research to promote patients’ well-being. In the past several years, research has shown physical activity and fitness to be major determinants of health. As recommended by the Exercise Is Medicine™ (EIM) initiative, exercise needs to be established as a vital sign and assessed at all doctor’s visits. In our recent study, we found a strong inverse relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness and incident stroke. In fact, there was a 60% lower stroke incidence in the high-fitness group compared with the low-fitness group. We know from prior studies that individuals can improve fitness by participating in regular physical activity. Numerous studies provide strong evidence that physical activity and fitness protect against numerous health problems. It is unlikely that there will ever be a pill that provides the multiple benefits of regular physical activity.
Get moving: Cancer survivors urged to exercise
Cancer survivors, better work up a sweat.
New guidelines are urging survivors to exercise more, even — hard as it may sound — those who haven’t yet finished their treatment.
There’s growing evidence that physical activity improves quality of life and eases some cancer-related fatigue. More, it can help fend off a serious decline in physical function that can last long after therapy is finished.
Consider: In one year, women who needed chemotherapy for their breast cancer can see a swapping of muscle for fat that’s equivalent to 10 years of normal aging, says Dr. Wendy Demark-Wahnefried of the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
In other words, a 45-year-old may find herself with the fatter, weaker body type of a 55-year-old. (more…)
Healing Yoga for Neck and Shoulder Pain
The Healing Moves Foundation advisory board member Carol Krucoff, E-RYT has done it again! Her new book, “Healing Yoga for Neck and Shoulder Pain” will help countless readers cope with the consequences of living in this digital age. Everyday activities like using the computer, driving, texting, and even relaxing with a good book tend to round our bodies forward, creating pain and tension in the neck and shoulders. This wonderful book features simple yoga-based neck and shoulder exercises readers can do at work or at home to release muscle tension and relax when they begin to feel pain. (more…)
Protecting the health and safety of young athletes
The Healing Moves Foundation attended a news conference and official launch of the PPE Campaign and Coalition for Youth Sports Health and Safety at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. on May 13, 2010. The purpose of the campaign is to encourage consistent, thorough and high-quality preparticipation physical evaluations for athletes beginning training and competition in sports activities. These medical screenings are extremely important to protect our young athletes. People who appear healthy can often have undetected conditions such as heart problems, diabetes, sickle cell anemia, or concussion complications. A new study by the American College of Sports Medicine finds overwhelming support for consistent medical screening of young athletes to identify if any of these conditions are present before they hit the playing field. Currently, there are no national standards when evaluating students. Each state has a different mandate on the requirements for the PPE. (more…)