Just about every person dealing with high blood pressure knows that exercise can help. But a fascinating study shows that one kind of workout can reduce hypertension near twice as much as prescription medications.
The research was presented at the European Society of Cardiology conference in Munich.
Scientists divided 60 volunteers with hypertension into groups. Some did simple yoga poses. Others did stretching, relaxation, or deep breathing exercises.… Read More
Chronic inflammation is the root cause of many serious illnesses, including cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and even Alzheimer’s.
Harvard University researchers go even further.
They say inflammation may cause all disease. They call it the “unifying theory” of disease.i
But inflammation can also be lifesaving. It is the body’s natural response to injury and illnesses. The process involves white blood cells and other immune substances attacking viruses and bacteria that invade your body. … Read More
It’s long been conventional wisdom in the world of fitness that you can’t get into good physical shape without some suffering.
Thus, the well-worn expression: “No pain, no gain.”
This phrase became popular in the early 1980s when Jane Fonda started using it in her big-selling aerobic workout videos. She would also urge viewers to “feel the burn.”i
But should we judge the effectiveness of our workouts by how much pain and soreness we feel?… Read More
Shoulder pain is one of the biggest health complaints among older people. Each year, more than more than 200,000 Americans have surgery to treat it.
The most common shoulder procedure is called “decompression.” It is supposed to cure or improve “impingement.” This is what doctors call pain and restricted range of movement in the shoulder.i
During the operation, the surgeon threads an arthroscope through a small incision to repair or remove damaged tissue.… Read More
Maybe Popeye was onto something…
A spinach extract is so powerful in building muscles that it has been banned in athletic competitions. Russian athletes have reportedly been secretly taking it for decades.i
The World Anti-Doping Agency recently banned ecdysterone from international athletic competitions. They say it gives athletes an unfair advantage.ii
But unlike other banned substances, ecdysterone isn’t a drug.… Read More
Running may be the perfect sport for the pandemic.
You don’t have to go to the gym. You don’t need any expensive equipment. And it doesn’t require any special skill.
Most importantly, it’s easy to social distance.
So it’s no surprise that running is booming during the COVID crisis.i
The running app Runkeeper reports a 252% increase in customers. And not only are there more runners during the pandemic, but runners are running more often.… Read More