03.06.2010
Lifestyle Coaching: Changing Your Path, Stress Management: Maintaining Balance, What is Biofeedback?
A new study out of Indiana University indicates that certain breathing exercises done regularly can “reduce [athletes'] need for oxygen [and] helps boost performance during endurance sports such as cycling and swimming.”
The researchers “found that inspiratory muscle training (IMT) significantly reduced the amount of oxygen required by breathing muscles during exercise, making more oxygen available for other muscles.”
The article stated that IMT, “Involves the use of a hand-held device that creates resistance while inhaling, requiring a person to make greater use of inspiratory muscles.”
“After six weeks of IMT training, inspiratory muscles required about 1 percent less oxygen during low-intensity exercise and 3 percent to 4 percent less oxygen during high-intensity exercise.”
Although the study involves a relatively small sample size of 16 male cyclists, it is very exciting to see such research that involves breathing associated with biofeedback, sports psychology, and physiological training and rehabilitation. It’s a great start!!
Article available at: http://www.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=639730
Study abstract available at: http://www.abstractsonline.com/Plan/ViewAbstract.aspx?sKey=3ac12429-3e7f-481e-96de-3fc67b36ea2f&cKey=fa65fab0-325a-4cf1-8f4e-e884fae4dd41&mKey={24A58842-A6E4-47C5-889B-B8D603BBBA25}
Dr. Schwartz
San Diego Psychologist
www.integrative-health.net
01.06.2010
Lifestyle Coaching: Changing Your Path, The Heaviness of Weight Management, The Wounded Heart: Heart Disease and You
Although children, adolescents, and sedentary behavior has been a hot topic these days, a new 20 year study indicates that being young (young adults) without exercise can have negative long term effects when it comes to hypertension.
According to the article, “4,618 men and women between 18 and 30 years old were recruited for a long-term study of cardiovascular disease risk factors. Study volunteers completed a treadmill test and a physical activity questionnaire when the study began. In addition, their overall health was assessed at six follow-up appointments over 20 years.”
The article also noted, “If people moved more and were able to increase their fitness level, the researchers estimate that about 34 percent of hypertension cases could be prevented.”
Lead researcher, Dr. Mercedes Carnethon, Ph.D., assistant professor of preventive medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago stated, “Those who were the least physically fit, as determined by the amount of time on a treadmill and self-report, were more likely to develop hypertension.”
Article available at: http://www.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=639705
Original Study Abstract at: http://hyper.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/HYPERTENSIONAHA.109.147603v1?maxtoshow=&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=Mercedes+Carnethon%2C+Ph.D&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&resourcetype=HWCIT
Dr. Schwartz
San Diego Psychologist
www.integrative-health.net
07.05.2010
Lifestyle Coaching: Changing Your Path, Pain Management: Controlling Your Life
A new study indicates that (1) obesity alone can increase the risk of having fibromyalgia and (2) also having a sedentary (inactive) lifestyle can make this risk even greater. The study followed 15,990 women after 11 years who initially did not have fibromyagia or physical problems.
Concerning weight, the article stated, “Being overweight — with a BMI [Body Mass Index] of 25 or higher — was a strong independent risk factor, with the heavier women having a 60 percent to 70 percent higher risk of developing the condition compared to the healthy weight women.”
Regarding exercise, the article emphasized its importance. According to the article, principle researcher Paul Mork, of Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, Norway noted, “Women who reported exercising four times per week [or more] had a 29 percent lower risk of fibromyalgia compared with inactive women. Those who exercised two to three times a week were about 11 percent less likely to get fibromyalgia.”
Article available at: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_98189.html
An abstract/summary from the original study is also available at: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/123268508/abstract
Dr. Schwartz
San Diego Psychologist
www.integrative-health.net
02.03.2010
Lifestyle Coaching: Changing Your Path, The Wounded Heart: Heart Disease and You
A government-industry collaboration study announces that even as little as a 10% reduction of salt in the U.S. population can very significantly reduce the amount of heart attacks, strokes, etc. per year. Available at: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_95859.html
Dr. Schwartz
San Diego Psychologist
www.integrative-health.net
13.01.2010
Services Posts
Weight management is your ability to sustain or manage a certain weight that you, or one of your resources, has determined for your daily living. Two of the most important factors (aside from how you chose your optimal weight for yourself) are diet and exercise. Although being underweight can have health risks, much of the research focuses on excessive weight and obesity.
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13.01.2010
Services Posts
Lifestyle is made up of the decisions you make on a daily basis, the routines you engage in, your habits, your social network, your occupation, your involvement in family, the influence of religion and spirituality, diet, exercise, and all of the other of what I call, “Life Factors.”
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13.01.2010
Services Posts
Heart disease is a general term that describes a wide variety of diseases that affect you heart and you blood vessels. These conditions include coronary artery disease; heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias); and heart defects you’re born with (congenital heart defects). The most common cause of heart disease is cardiovascular disease — a condition involving the narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries (blood vessels that supply the heart) that can lead to chest pain (angina), heart attack, or stroke. Other forms of heart disease may include infections and conditions that affect your heart’s muscle, valves, or rhythm.
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