Chronic Diseases
Mind-Body Therapies and Cardiovascular Disease
Mind-body therapies and biology-based therapies are the treatment modalities most commonly used among patients with heart disease who turn to complementary and alternative medicine, according to a report in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2013; doi: 10.1155/2013/672097). Researchers based this conclusion on an analysis of a variety of studies and surveys, including the American 2007 National Health Interview Survey and international surveys conducted through 2010.
Exercise Helps People With Dementia
In people with dementia, exercise may significantly improve cognitive functioning and the ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs), according to an updated research review from the University of Alberta in Edmonton. Researchers are motivated to find ways to treat or to slow dementia’s progress, since rates of the disease are expected to rise exponentially along with the aging population.
Home Based HIIT for Heart Disease Patients?
According to researchers from Norway, supervised high-intensity interval train- ing has become more widely used as an exercise intervention for heart disease patients. Recently, they determined that home-based HIIT can also be effective at improving health scores in this group.
Exercise Protects Black Women Against Aggressive Cancer
According to the American Cancer Society, white women are more likely to develop breast cancer; however, African American women are more likely to die from the disease. A recent study shows that a lifetime of vigorous exercise can help protect black women against aggressive breast cancer.
7 Common Questions On Sarcopenia
Does sarcopenia affect men or women to a greater extent?
There is no evidence to support gender specificity in sarcopenia. It is highly related to inactivity; older adults with lower levels of physical activity are more likely to develop sarcopenia.
Is sarcopenia hereditary?
What Is Sarcopenia, and Can We Turn Back the Clock?
What makes us weaken with age? The prime culprit is sarcopenia—age-related loss of muscle mass, strength, power and function (Sayer et al. 2013; Morley 2012). Morley (2012) says 5%–13% of 60- to 70-year-olds and 11%–50% of people in their 80s have sarcopenia, which means “poverty of flesh.”
Weighty Issues for Older Women
Overweight and obesity have a known cor- relation to disability, disease and death. A recent investigation looked at obesity and its impact on women’s survival to 85 years old.
Diabetes Data and Projections
According to the International Diabetes Federation, current diabetes data and future projections look grim.
The umbrella organization, which comprises more than 200 national diabetes associations in more than 160 countries,
estimates that the number of people living with the disease worldwide will reach 592 million by 2035—or 1 in 10 of the world’s population. The IDF states that there are currently 382 million diabetics worldwide. This information was published in the sixth edition of the IDF Diabetes Atlas.
Exercise and Survival Among Coronary Artery Disease Patients
Stable coronary artery disease—defined as an established pat- tern of angina pectoris, a history of myocardial infarction, or the presence of plaque documented by catheterization—affects 17 million Americans (American Family Physician, 2011; 83 [7], 819–26). According to new research, exercise can significantly improve survival rates among CAD patients.
New Diabetes Standards Emphasize Personal Approach Over Diets
A new study in the British Journal of Nutrition (2013; 109 [11], 2015–23) has found that eating either peanuts or peanut butter as part of your break- fast can control blood sugar through- out most of the day, even following a high-carb lunch.
This Simple Exercise Reduces Breast-Cancer Risk
Several studies have shown a positive association between regular exercise and reduced risk of certain types of can- cer. now, a study from the American Cancer Society has determined a link between walking and reduced breast- cancer risk in postmenopausal women.
Exercise Reduces Risk Of Another Type Of Cancer
the American Cancer Society estimates that approxi- mately 17,990 new esophageal cancer cases (14,440 in men and 3,550 in women) were diagnosed in the United States in 2013. the organization also estimates that about 15,210 people (12,220 men and 2,990 women) died from esophageal cancer in the same year. Here’s the good news: new research shows that exercisers have less risk of developing the disease.
6 Important Questions About Diabetes
1. Since high blood glucose is dangerous, is low blood glucose healthy?
When blood glucose levels fall below 70 mg/dl, the condition is called hypoglycemia or low blood glucose. Since the primary fuel of the central nervous system (CNS) is glucose, low blood glucose can dramatically impair CNS function. Hypoglycemia can lead to dizziness, confusion, slurred speech, blurred vision and sleepiness (Gulve 2008).
2. What is glycosylated hemoglobin and the HbA1c test?
Heart Arrhythmias: An Exercise Professional’s Primer
The heart does remarkable work. Roughly the size of a human fist, the heart pumps blood every second of every day, delivering nutrients and oxygen to organs and tissues, and sending waste to filters in the kidneys, liver and lungs.
Yet not every heart works well. A healthy heart relies on a self-generating electrical signaling system to keep it pumping at the right pace; heart maladies that disrupt the signals can dramatically impact a client’s health. Collectively, we call these maladies heart arrhythmias.
High Cholesterol Riskier in Middle-Age for Men Than for Women
While keeping a healthy cholesterol profile is important for everyone, middle-aged men with high cholesterol have a greater risk of first-time heart attack than middle-aged women with the same condition, researchers reported.
The scientists observed Norwegian women (23,525) and men (20,725), all younger than 60 at baseline, for 12 years. They looked at cholesterol scores and noted any incidence of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), or heart attack, among the subjects.
Low Gut Bacteria Linked to Obesity, Inflammation
It’s often said that good health begins in the gut, an aphorism that is well supported by two studies published in the August 29 issue of Nature (2013; 500, 541-46). In short, individuals with low bacterial richness in their gut have more obesity and inflammation–and weight loss can improve the richness of their bacterial genes.
Skip the Juice, Eat Whole Fruits, to Avoid Type 2 Diabetes
It’s tempting to think you can get one of your daily fruit servings from a glass of juice, but skip the convenience of drinking it and instead eat the whole fruit, say Harvard School of Public Health (HSHP) researchers.
Exercise for Clients with Arthritis
For my clients who have arthritis, I make sure I maintain an open line of communication throughout our sessions. I always ask if certain exercises are bothersome or painful, and I make adjustments if necessary. Even though I choose exercises that won’t irritate the joints, I still ask about comfort levels.
American Medical Association: Obesity Is a Disease
By now you’ve probably heard about the American Medical Association’s decision to classify obesity as a disease.
“Recognizing obesity as a disease will help change the way the medical commu-nity tackles this complex issue that affects approximately one in three Americans,” explained AMA board member Patrice Harris, MD, at the AMA annual meeting. “The AMA is committed to improving health outcomes and is working to reduce the incidence of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, which are often linked to obesity.”
Exercise and the Autism Population
There are many misconceptions around exercise for the autism population. There can be profound cognitive challenges, and some do not adapt easily to exercise regimens. But, for many on the autism spectrum, a carefully structured program and a patient, well-prepared trainer can help them become healthier and more fit.