A recent study suggests resistance exercise (or weight training) has specific and unique cardiovascular benefits. Although aerobic exercise is most commonly associated with promoting heart health, not as much was known about the benefits of resistance exercise until now.
Researchers compared blood vessel responses in resistance versus aerobic exercises. Their findings showed that resistance exercises produced significantly different, but also beneficial, cardiovascular effects.
Resistance exercise was found to cause greater increases in blood flow to the limbs than aerobic exercise was. Resistance exercise also led to longer lasting drops in blood pressure after exercise than aerobic was.
Lead researcher, Dr. Collier, said that resistance exercise has shown “many favorable cardiovascular benefits and should therefore be considered as part of a daily exercise training program.”
Because of the unique effects on blood pressure and limb blood flow that weight training produces, Dr. Collier encourages people to use weight training in conjunction with aerobic exercise for optimal cardiovascular results.
"This may be of greatest importance to women, as they can derive important weight-bearing benefits of resistance training to help prevent and/or treat osteoporosis," Dr. Collier adds.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
News Article: “Text4baby” Service Aims to Reach One Million Moms
The brand new, groundbreaking, free mobile information service, “text4baby” has announced its major expansion. This program was created by The National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition (HMHB) and its expansion has been made possible through a multi-million dollar commitment by Johnson & Johnson.
The text4baby program is designed to offer practical information about improving maternal and infant health to women, especially those with limited access to obstetric information and care. The program is about to gain thousands of additional partners in communities at risk and its goal is to serve one million mothers by 2012.
“Through text4baby we hope to better understand how cell phones can be used to improve public health generally,” said Chief Technology Officer for the Department of Health and Human Services, Todd Park. He added that his department will continue conducting “rigorous evaluations of the health impact of text4baby.”
All women need to do to sign up for the service is text BABY (or BEBE for Spanish) to 511411. They will then receive free SMS text messages each week, timed to their baby’s due date. The texts will provide women with valuable information on the best ways to take care of their health and their babies’ health.
“With this significant commitment from Johnson & Johnson, we will be able to see that thousands more women will be able to take advantage of the service and, potentially, get connected to care that will have lifelong consequences,” said CEO of National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition, Judy Meehan.
The U.S. Government is helping to raise awareness for the text4baby service as well. U.S. Defense is also exploring the value of the service for military families. Text4baby is currently the Nation’s largest mobile health initiative.
The text4baby program is designed to offer practical information about improving maternal and infant health to women, especially those with limited access to obstetric information and care. The program is about to gain thousands of additional partners in communities at risk and its goal is to serve one million mothers by 2012.
“Through text4baby we hope to better understand how cell phones can be used to improve public health generally,” said Chief Technology Officer for the Department of Health and Human Services, Todd Park. He added that his department will continue conducting “rigorous evaluations of the health impact of text4baby.”
All women need to do to sign up for the service is text BABY (or BEBE for Spanish) to 511411. They will then receive free SMS text messages each week, timed to their baby’s due date. The texts will provide women with valuable information on the best ways to take care of their health and their babies’ health.
“With this significant commitment from Johnson & Johnson, we will be able to see that thousands more women will be able to take advantage of the service and, potentially, get connected to care that will have lifelong consequences,” said CEO of National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition, Judy Meehan.
The U.S. Government is helping to raise awareness for the text4baby service as well. U.S. Defense is also exploring the value of the service for military families. Text4baby is currently the Nation’s largest mobile health initiative.
News Article: Gym-Free Holiday Exercise Tips
Experts at the University of Texas explain how you can cross off tasks on your holiday to-do list while getting a daily dose of exercise in all at the same time. And with no gym required. Your body needs at least a half hour a day of moderate physical activity and these 30 minutes can easily be incorporated into many holiday activities.
While shopping, instead of spending your time searching for a parking space near the door, park far from the entrance to get some extra walking in. If you take the bus or train, get off a stop or two early. Once inside the store, always choose the stairs over the elevator or escalator and, if possible, carry your purchases instead of using a shopping cart.
“For walking to count as exercise, you should be a little out of breath and feel your heart beating a little faster,” Karen Basen-Engquist, professor in the Department of Behavioral Sciences at the University of Texas, says. “You should be able to talk in short sentences, but not sing holiday songs.”
If you’re hosting guests, preparing your house for their arrival can be a great way to get in some aerobic activity. Basen-Engquist says tasks that use large muscle groups such as your legs and back are the best – such as vacuuming, mopping, scrubbing and taking trips up and down the stairs.
Physical activity can easily be added to travel plans too. While waiting for a train or bus or during bathroom and gas breaks while driving, take a brisk walk around. While staying at a relative’s house or in a hotel, explore the area by walking, jogging or hiking around.
“By making physical activity part of your holiday plans, you’ll ensure you have the momentum to keep exercising in the New Year,” Basen-Engquist says.
While shopping, instead of spending your time searching for a parking space near the door, park far from the entrance to get some extra walking in. If you take the bus or train, get off a stop or two early. Once inside the store, always choose the stairs over the elevator or escalator and, if possible, carry your purchases instead of using a shopping cart.
“For walking to count as exercise, you should be a little out of breath and feel your heart beating a little faster,” Karen Basen-Engquist, professor in the Department of Behavioral Sciences at the University of Texas, says. “You should be able to talk in short sentences, but not sing holiday songs.”
If you’re hosting guests, preparing your house for their arrival can be a great way to get in some aerobic activity. Basen-Engquist says tasks that use large muscle groups such as your legs and back are the best – such as vacuuming, mopping, scrubbing and taking trips up and down the stairs.
Physical activity can easily be added to travel plans too. While waiting for a train or bus or during bathroom and gas breaks while driving, take a brisk walk around. While staying at a relative’s house or in a hotel, explore the area by walking, jogging or hiking around.
“By making physical activity part of your holiday plans, you’ll ensure you have the momentum to keep exercising in the New Year,” Basen-Engquist says.
News Article:Black Raspberries May Protect Against Colon Cancer and More
In addition to being delicious, black raspberries may be even healthier than we thought. Recent research conducted by the University of Illinois at Chicago strongly suggests that these berries are highly effective in preventing colorectal tumors, which lead to colon cancer.
In the study two types of genetically flawed mice were investigated. One type had a genetic deficiency which caused the development of intestinal tumors. The other type’s deficiency caused the development of colitis (an inflammation of the large intestine that contributes to development of colorectal cancer). Many of the mice were fed a diet that included freeze-dried black raspberry powder for 12 weeks.
The study was based on previous research which found black raspberries to possess strong antioxidant, anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties. Researchers found that those mice whose diets included black raspberries experienced a wide range of protective benefits for their intestines, rectums and colons. Black raspberries were also found to inhibit tumor development.
In one type of mouse, the incidence of tumors was reduced by 45 percent and the number of tumors was reduced by 60 percent due to black raspberry ingestion. Also a protein which led to the formation of tumors was found to be suppressed by black raspberries. In the other type of mouse, both tumor incidence and the number of tumors were reduced by 50 percent and chronic inflammation associated with colitis was also reduced due to black raspberry ingestion.
The lead researcher of the study said he hopes to begin clinical trials with humans because not only were black raspberries found to prevent colon cancer in mice, but inflammation as well. This means that black raspberries could have the potential to protect against heart disease and other diseases too.
In the study two types of genetically flawed mice were investigated. One type had a genetic deficiency which caused the development of intestinal tumors. The other type’s deficiency caused the development of colitis (an inflammation of the large intestine that contributes to development of colorectal cancer). Many of the mice were fed a diet that included freeze-dried black raspberry powder for 12 weeks.
The study was based on previous research which found black raspberries to possess strong antioxidant, anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties. Researchers found that those mice whose diets included black raspberries experienced a wide range of protective benefits for their intestines, rectums and colons. Black raspberries were also found to inhibit tumor development.
In one type of mouse, the incidence of tumors was reduced by 45 percent and the number of tumors was reduced by 60 percent due to black raspberry ingestion. Also a protein which led to the formation of tumors was found to be suppressed by black raspberries. In the other type of mouse, both tumor incidence and the number of tumors were reduced by 50 percent and chronic inflammation associated with colitis was also reduced due to black raspberry ingestion.
The lead researcher of the study said he hopes to begin clinical trials with humans because not only were black raspberries found to prevent colon cancer in mice, but inflammation as well. This means that black raspberries could have the potential to protect against heart disease and other diseases too.
News Article: Keeping it Healthy Over the Holidays
The holiday season is right around the corner - which means so are the parades of delicious, high-calorie temptations that come along with it. We all know that eating healthy during the holidays can be difficult, but it is not impossible.
Registered dietitian, Nicole Patience of Temple University offers some tips on how to keep the extra pounds away during the holidays. First off, she says, just because you know you will be eating less healthy foods later on in the day, don't throw in the towel on making healthy choices earlier in the day. Just because you know what to expect for dinner on Thanksgiving morning, there is still no reason to give up on a healthy breakfast.
“Think of each meal as a separate opportunity to give your body the nutrition it needs,” Patience said.
Secondly, she says, avoid digging right into the vast food selection before surveying it. Think to yourself which foods you will truly enjoy eating the most and limit yourself to those foods. It is not about depriving yourself, Patience said, rather it’s about dedicating your stomach space to foods you find to be truly worth occupying it.
Next, Patience says, avoid drinking your calories. Alcohol is often plentiful at holiday celebrations. Patience advises choosing light beer over regular beer if you only plan on drinking a few. However, she warns, don’t trick yourself into thinking that just because light beer has fewer calories, you can drink more of them.
Lastly, Patience says to be realistic. Keep the time of the year in perspective. It is the season for eating and it’s okay that you will be eating less healthy foods than you might at other times of the year. Just be sure to listen to the cues your body sends to you when you are full.
“That way, instead of worrying so much about calories, you’ll be more focused on spending that time with the people you care about,” Patience said.
Registered dietitian, Nicole Patience of Temple University offers some tips on how to keep the extra pounds away during the holidays. First off, she says, just because you know you will be eating less healthy foods later on in the day, don't throw in the towel on making healthy choices earlier in the day. Just because you know what to expect for dinner on Thanksgiving morning, there is still no reason to give up on a healthy breakfast.
“Think of each meal as a separate opportunity to give your body the nutrition it needs,” Patience said.
Secondly, she says, avoid digging right into the vast food selection before surveying it. Think to yourself which foods you will truly enjoy eating the most and limit yourself to those foods. It is not about depriving yourself, Patience said, rather it’s about dedicating your stomach space to foods you find to be truly worth occupying it.
Next, Patience says, avoid drinking your calories. Alcohol is often plentiful at holiday celebrations. Patience advises choosing light beer over regular beer if you only plan on drinking a few. However, she warns, don’t trick yourself into thinking that just because light beer has fewer calories, you can drink more of them.
Lastly, Patience says to be realistic. Keep the time of the year in perspective. It is the season for eating and it’s okay that you will be eating less healthy foods than you might at other times of the year. Just be sure to listen to the cues your body sends to you when you are full.
“That way, instead of worrying so much about calories, you’ll be more focused on spending that time with the people you care about,” Patience said.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
News Article: Have an Allergy-and-Asthma-Free Thanksgiving
The feasting and traveling involved in Thanksgiving can be fun, but it can also be frightening for those suffering from allergies or asthma. But here is something to be thankful for; the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) has some helpful holiday tips to offer for anyone with asthma or allergies.
If relatives who suffer from allergies or asthma are staying over your house for Thanksgiving, the ACAAI lists a number of precautions that should be taken in order to accommodate their needs. First off, stop all smoking in the house. Secondly, change your furnace filter; a high efficiency MERV 11 rated filter is recommended, if possible.
It is also recommended that pets be kept out of the bedrooms that guests will be sleeping in for at least a few days in advance. Also, wash all linens and pillows in hot water and vacuum well before your guests arrive. However, the ACAAI does not recommend vacuuming during their visit. And, of course, keeping allergens off of the Thanksgiving menu is important; be sure to read food labels before cooking.
If you yourself suffer from allergies or asthma, it is important to alert your host well in advance of your condition and your triggers. Also plan your travels accordingly; be sure to pack any prescriptions or inhalers, keeping them close at hand. Packing an allergen-proof pillow cover is also a good idea if dust-mites are your trigger.
The ACAAI also recommends that those with allergies or asthma get flu shots before exposed to relatives and their germs. Catching the flu can result in severe asthma attacks.
For more information about allergies and asthma or to find an allergist near you visit AllergyAndAsthmaRelief.org.
If relatives who suffer from allergies or asthma are staying over your house for Thanksgiving, the ACAAI lists a number of precautions that should be taken in order to accommodate their needs. First off, stop all smoking in the house. Secondly, change your furnace filter; a high efficiency MERV 11 rated filter is recommended, if possible.
It is also recommended that pets be kept out of the bedrooms that guests will be sleeping in for at least a few days in advance. Also, wash all linens and pillows in hot water and vacuum well before your guests arrive. However, the ACAAI does not recommend vacuuming during their visit. And, of course, keeping allergens off of the Thanksgiving menu is important; be sure to read food labels before cooking.
If you yourself suffer from allergies or asthma, it is important to alert your host well in advance of your condition and your triggers. Also plan your travels accordingly; be sure to pack any prescriptions or inhalers, keeping them close at hand. Packing an allergen-proof pillow cover is also a good idea if dust-mites are your trigger.
The ACAAI also recommends that those with allergies or asthma get flu shots before exposed to relatives and their germs. Catching the flu can result in severe asthma attacks.
For more information about allergies and asthma or to find an allergist near you visit AllergyAndAsthmaRelief.org.
News Article: E-Smart Technology Aims to Help Young Adults Cope with Mental Illness
About one in every five young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 has a mental illness, according to postdoctoral scholar and University instructor, Melissa Pinto-Folz. Seventy percent of them do not receive treatment, Pinto-Folz said. And out of those that do receive treatment, many drop out early because of difficulties managing their illness, she added.
Pinto-Folz and other developers at Case Western Reserve University have created a computer program called Electronic Self-Management Resource Training to Reduce Health Disparities (E-SMART-HD or E-Smart), aimed towards bettering patient-healthcare provider communications. The goal of the program is to improve how those with mental illnesses manage their health – with a particular emphasis on young adults.
“Young adults accept technology as part of their lives and are comfortable interacting with it,” Pinto-Folz said. “This project seemed like a natural extension of what they are already doing every day.”
The E-Smart program will allow patients to interact with avatars of virtual health care providers in a virtual environment. The program will guide patients through these interactions and help them when they encounter problems.
The next step in the process will be to test the E-Smart program on participants with depression or anxiety. The participants will then assess the effectiveness of the program and it will be tweaked accordingly.
“Young adults do not have to struggle with mental illness,” Pinto-Folz said. “We want to see young adults get the help they need to feel better."
Pinto-Folz and other developers at Case Western Reserve University have created a computer program called Electronic Self-Management Resource Training to Reduce Health Disparities (E-SMART-HD or E-Smart), aimed towards bettering patient-healthcare provider communications. The goal of the program is to improve how those with mental illnesses manage their health – with a particular emphasis on young adults.
“Young adults accept technology as part of their lives and are comfortable interacting with it,” Pinto-Folz said. “This project seemed like a natural extension of what they are already doing every day.”
The E-Smart program will allow patients to interact with avatars of virtual health care providers in a virtual environment. The program will guide patients through these interactions and help them when they encounter problems.
The next step in the process will be to test the E-Smart program on participants with depression or anxiety. The participants will then assess the effectiveness of the program and it will be tweaked accordingly.
“Young adults do not have to struggle with mental illness,” Pinto-Folz said. “We want to see young adults get the help they need to feel better."
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