What is healthy living?

This article is designed to give tips to readers about how they can improve or augment actions in their life to have a healthy lifestyle; it is not meant to be all inclusive but will include major components that are considered to be parts of a lifestyle that lead to good health. In addition to the tips about what people should do for healthy living, the article will mention some of the tips about avoiding actions (the don'ts) that lead to unhealthy living.

"Healthy living" to most people means both physical and mental health are in balance or functioning well together in a person. In many instances, physical and mental health are closely linked, so that a change (good or bad) in one directly affects the other. Consequently, some of the tips will include suggestions for emotional and mental "healthy living."

Healthy eating (diet and nutrition)

All humans have to eat food for growth and maintenance of a healthy body, but we humans have different nutrition requirements as infants, children (kids), teenagers, young adults, adults, and seniors. For example, infants may require feeding every 4 hours until they gradually age and begin to take in more solid foods. Eventually they develop into the more normal pattern of eating three times per day as young kids. However, as most parents know, kids, teenagers, and young adults often snack between meals. Snacking is often not limited to these age groups because adults and seniors often do the same.

Tips:

Tips for special situations:

Physical activity and exercise

Physical activity and exercise is a major contributor to a healthy lifestyle; people are made to use their bodies, and disuse leads to unhealthy living. Unhealthy living may manifest itself in obesity, weakness, lack of endurance, and overall poor health that may foster disease development.

Tips:

Most individuals can begin moderate exercise, such as walking, without a medical examination. The following people, however, should consult a doctor before beginning more vigorous exercise:

Consequences of physical inactivity and lack of exercise:

Healthy living involves more than physical health, it also includes emotional or mental health. The following are some ways people can support their mental health and well-being.

Tips:

Avoidance behavior is another key to wellness. Below are described some of the major items to avoid if a person is seeking a healthy lifestyle.

Latest Nutrition, Food & Recipes News

Avoid tobacco use

Tobacco use is the most important preventable illness and cause of death in the U.S., according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Tobacco use was estimated to be the cause of 443,000 deaths in 2010 in the U.S.

Tip:

Avoid excessive alcohol consumption

There are many treatments for alcoholism. But the crucial first step to recovery is for the individual to admit there is a problem and make a commitment to address the alcoholism issue. The 12-step-style self-help programs, pioneered by Alcoholics Anonymous, can be one effective treatment. Psychologists and related professionals have developed programs to help individuals better handle emotional stresses and avoid behaviors that can lead to excess drinking. Support and understanding from family members are often critical for sustained recovery. Medication can be useful for the prevention of relapses and for withdrawal symptoms following acute or prolonged intoxication.

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Avoid high-risk sexual behaviors

High-risk sexual behavior can lead to the acquisition of sexually transmitted illnesses such as gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes, or HIV infection. High-risk sexual behavior is also known to spread human papillomavirus infection, which can lead to cervical cancer in women and other anogenital cancers in both men and women. High-risk sexual behaviors include the following:

Avoid other high-risk behaviors

Sunscreens have undergone changes, and the U.S. FDA (Food and Drug Administration) published new requirements that sunscreens needed to meet starting in 2012. Currently, the FDA suggests an effective sunscreen is rated as SPF 30 or higher and has both UVA and UVB protection (protection against ultraviolet waves of types A and B). In most instances, sunscreen needs to be applied every 2 hours and each time after a person has gone swimming.

Additional tips for healthy living

Although there are many other risky behaviors that may impede an otherwise healthy lifestyle (for example, working with toxic or radioactive materials, drug addiction, travel to areas with unusual endemic diseases), these are too numerous to cover in this general article. However, the reader is advised to visit such topic sites on MedicineNet.com, eMedicineHealth.com or WebMD.com because most of the specific articles will provide tips to avoid health-related problems.

Medically Reviewed on 11/7/2019

References

United States. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Sleep and Sleep Disorders." Sept. 23, 2010. <http://www.cdc.gov/features/sleep/>.

United States. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Smoking & Tobacco Use." Mar. 21, 2011. <http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/health_effects/effects_cig_smoking/#adults>.

United States. National Cancer Institute. "Tobacco Statistics Snapshot." Nov. 12, 2010. <http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/tobacco/statisticssnapshot>.

United States. National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. "Healthy Eating Plan." <http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/obesity/lose_wt/calories.htm>.

United States. United States Department of Agriculture. "ChooseMyPlate.gov." Aug. 26, 2011. <http://www.choosemyplate.gov/>.

United States. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. "Produce Safety." May 16, 2011. <http://www.fda.gov/food/resourcesforyou/consumers/ucm114299>.

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Healthy Living Facts, Diet and Exercise Tips & Tools for Success

Ask most of my NYC friends what it means to have a "healthy lifestyle" and they'll tell you it's sleeping at least four hours a night and having a balanced negroni. That said, New Yorkers walk half a mile from their jobs to the bar, snack on heart-healthy oysters during happy hour, and drunkenly tell their sad friends to see a therapist.

It can be difficult to measure "health" in communities, but the prevailingculture of NYC -- the built-in exercise of a commute, healthier bar snacks, a focus on mental health -- is what earned the city spot No. 6 out of 174 in WalletHub's new ranking of the healthiest and unhealthiest cities in America. To achieve this ranking, the personal finance company compared more than 170 of the most populated cities across 43 key indicators of good health. They also focused on four key dimensions: 1) Health Care, 2) Food, 3) Fitness and 4) Green Space, according to a summary of the findings.

The healthiest cities in the US

20. San Jose, CA19. Boston, MA18. Fremont, CA17. Burlington, VT16. Salt Lake City, UT15. Minneapolis, MN14. Huntington Beach, CA13. Honolulu, HI12. Los Angeles, CA11. Austin, TX10. Chicago, IL9. Scottsdale, AZ8. Irvine, CA7. Denver, CO6. New York, NY5. Washington, DC4. Portland, OR3. San Diego, CA2. Seattle, WA1. San Francisco, CA

The unhealthiest cities in the US

20. Amarillo, TX19. Fayetteville, NC18. Lubbock, TX17. Columbus, GA16. Jackson, MS15. Baton Rouge, LA14. North Las Vegas, NV13. Toledo, OH12. Corpus Christi, TX11. Mobile, AL10. Detroit, MI9. Fort Smith, AR8. Augusta, GA7. Huntington, WV6. Montgomery, AL5. Memphis, TN4. Shreveport, LA3. Gulfport, MS2. Laredo, TX1. Brownsville, TX

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This Map Reveals the Healthiest (and Unhealthiest) Cities in America - Thrillist

Technology has transformed the way we take care of ourselves by allowing us to use our mobile devices and accessories such as fitness bands to eat healthy, stay in shape and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

The Bartlesville Public Library will host a class on Health Apps & Fitness Wearables. The class will be presented by Dax McCauley, at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 20th.

This class will review the features, functionality and ease of use of the top 10 options so you can select the best health apps and tracking devices to complement your health goals.

We hope everyone will join us for this innovative and very informative class, said BPL Literacy Coordinator Karen Kerr-McGraw.

McCauley is an exercise physiologist at Ascension St. John Jane Phillips Wellness Connection. He is a certified personal trainer specializing in strength and conditioning. He also enjoys organizing recreational activities and associate wellness programming.

This and all programs presented by the Bartlesville Public Library Literacy Services are funded by grants from the Oklahoma Department of Libraries and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The program is free and open to the public. For more information, call 918-338-4179.

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News Library to Offer Health Apps & Fitness Wearables Class - Bartlesville Radio

As Valentines Day approaches, a Cleveland Clinic survey finds that two-thirds of Americans (66%) in a committed relationship are concerned with their partners heart health. Moreover, 60% of Americans say they are more motivated to live a heart healthy lifestyle for their partners than for themselves. This is especially true for men 67% compared to 52% for women.

The survey was conducted as part of Cleveland Clinic Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institutes Love your Heart consumer education campaign in celebration of American Heart Month. It looked at how relationships affect heart health.

The survey found most Americans in committed relationships are looking to their partners for motivation. An overwhelming majority (83%) agreed that if their partner adopted a heart-healthy diet, they would join in, and 57% said they are more likely to exercise with their partner than by themselves.

We know that strong emotions can affect the heart, if only temporarily. But, partners can make a long-term impact on each others heart health, said Samir Kapadia, M.D., chairman of Cardiovascular Medicine at Cleveland Clinic. I recommend partners undertake heart healthy habits together. Make it fun but hold each other accountable find new healthy recipes and cook them together, join an exercise class, or go on daily walks with your partner. Simple lifestyle changes can go a long way in keeping your heart strong and healthy.

Alternatively, partners can be a negative influence.

About two-thirds (64%) of Americans in committed relationships acknowledgethat they enable or are enabled by their partner in unhealthy heart habits. For example, far more couples said they were likely to binge watch a TV show with their partner (66%) than exercise together (46%).

Additional survey findings include:

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for 1 in every 4 deaths. Cleveland Clinic has been ranked the No. 1 hospital in the country for cardiology and cardiac surgery for 25 years in a row by US News & World Report.

MethodologyCleveland Clinics survey of the general population gathered insights into Americans perceptions of heart health and prevention. This was an online survey conducted among a national probability sample consisting of 1,000 adults 18 years of age and older, living in the continental United States. The total sample data is nationally representative based on age, gender, ethnicity and educational attainment census data. The online survey was conducted by Dynata and completed between September 23 and September 26, 2018. The margin of error for the total sample at the 95% confidence level is +/- 3.1 percentage points.

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For Valentines Day, Think of Your and Your Partners Heart Health - Health Essentials from Cleveland Clinic

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Adults who take steps to manage cardiovascular risk factors improve the odds that theyll remain cognitively sharp no matter their age.

Thats according to a detailed new report from The Global Council on Brain Health, a working group of scientists, healthcare professionals and policy experts founded by the AARP. Healthy lifestyle changes are not easy to make, the authors write, and clinicians need to assist and support their patients in their attempts.

We have something in our back pocket we can do something about, said geriatric psychiatrist Kristine Yaffe of University of California, San Francisco. Increasingly, what we understand is that cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular disease risk factors are probably our best strategy to reduce dementia at this point.

Among the reports top recommendations for adults of any age:

The full report and detailed recommendations are available through the AARP website.

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Caring for the heart in later life protects the brain - Clinical Daily News - McKnight's Long Term Care News

Last week, NBC News reported that a 4-year-old boy from Colorado had died from the flu and that users of a Facebook group, Stop Mandatory Vaccination, might have helped contribute to his deathby offering anti-vax-style medical misinformation. The man behind that group isLarry Cook. He is the second leading anti-vax advertiser on Facebook, a key player in an increasingly dangerous anti-vaxx community, and hes profiting.

In his group, members ask one another for medical advice that aims to replace traditional medicine with so-called natural remedies such as breast milk, vitamins, and supplements in lieu of prescribed medicines like Tamiflu and, of course, vaccines. Worse still, these groups offer a conspiratorial tone that pushes parents away from trusting the medical establishment (i.e. their pediatrician) over the advice of mostly uncredentialed people who have done their own research into vaccines, or naturopaths who tout supplements over medicine. The results, as one four-year-old found, can be devastating.

The mom of the boy, who has three other children, two of which she said were not vaccinated against the flu, was one of the 139,000 members of the group and posted frequently in the group before her son died. She asked for natural remedies for the flu, and notably refused to give her children Tamiflu her doctor prescribed for the whole family. Much of the coverage has been on Facebook for allowing groups like Stop Mandatory Vaccination, which is one of the largest misinformation groups on the platform. But not as much has been said about Cook the man behind the group who by his own admission, stands to gain from being able to continue to share disinformation. After all, hes built his business off of vaccine misinformation. Heres what we know about Cook based on previous media interviews and extensive online activity.

Cook bills himself as a healthy lifestyle advocate, author, filmmaker, and anti-vaccination conspiracy theorist. Doing so apparently includes organizing campaigns to harass parents whose children have died to suggest that vaccines are the cause. The group, which was created over five years ago, is just part the way that he helps disseminate anti-vaccine information. He also buys ads that target women 25 and older who live in areas with measles outbreaks, ostensibly to ensure that when lawmakers inevitably bring up tightening vaccine exemptions, a group of organized and angry parents are there to fight it every step of the way.

Now that you're a parent, how do you meet new friends?

Parenting groups or playdates

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Per Cooks website, he became passionate about so-called natural living about 30 years ago after reading John Robbins Diet for a New America, a Pulitzer-prize nominated book about the health benefits of vegetarianism and the perils of the farm factory meat industry. The book does not mention vaccines in its 464 pages. But Cooks interest in vegetarianism and a healthy lifestyle at least according to his website, somehow eventually translated into a significant interest in the Autism controversy. He launched a website titled Biomedical Treatment for Autism. filled with unscientific rants about toxins, conspiratorial wording around gastrointestinal issues. Biomedical treatment is a sham cure that is promoted by Focus For Health, who believe there is a link between the MMR vaccine and autism.

Cook, who is notably not a doctor nor a person with any medical training or background, took his fight about the Autism controversy, to a host of major platforms including GoFundMe, YouTube, and Facebook. In February of 2019, Cook told The Daily Beast that he had made $80,000 on GoFundMe alone, and in another report said he had spent at least $35,000 on ads to make parents question the safety and efficacy of vaccines, which will in turn help them realize why vaccine mandates could be problematic for their children.

His GoFundMe campaigns were primarily used to raise money to buy ads on Facebook, which helped drive membership to his group, his websites, and products he hawks like his book, The Beginners Guide to Natural Living. He has a category on his website titled Autism is Reversible. When The Daily Beast pressed him on where the money from the GoFundMe campaigns went, he admitted that the money goes directly into his bank account and he sometimes uses it to pay his own bills. One campaign that was to run an ad that claimed that the medical community was covering up the death of infants, raised $12,000 alone. Cook has been de-platformed from GoFundMe since early 2019 and can no longer raise money through the crowdfunding website.

An article published by The Guardian in November 2019 found that over half of Facebook ads that promote anti-vaxxer bias were funded by just two organizations: the World Mercury Project, the pet project of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and Stop Mandatory Vaccinations, the group run by Larry Cook (this is compared to 83 different health organizations promoting pro-vaccine information.) The article also found that simply spending $500 on an anti-vaccine ad could get it in front of the eyes of anywhere from 5,000 to 50,000 Facebook users, and those ads usually also link to natural remedies, books, or seminars on healthy living.

Many anti-vaccination ads are still running on the platform despite the fact that in March of that same year, Facebook announced that it would take down and target all vaccine ads that contained misinformation about the so-called risks of vaccines. And it did seem like Cook was, at least for some time, prohibited on Facebook, as they took down $5,000 in advertisements that he paid for promoting vaccine disinformation.

Facebook also said that it would disable accounts that abused its anti-disinformation policy. It appears that most anti-vaxxers have been able to get around this by simply stating opposition to vaccines; not publishing disinformation about them. A January 2020 article published by Buzzfeed found that anti-vaxx ads are still rampant on the platform despite the new policy partly due to Facebooks policy that only disinformation would be banned on the platform, so ads that, say, are about whooping cough and mention vaccine controversy are able to stay on the platform; as are ads that promote alternative cures to the illness, which kills 160,000 people a year.

Another place where Cook was de-platformed somewhat surprisingly, YouTube, who announced they would de-monetize all YouTube accounts peddling vaccine misinformation in February of 2019. Until that point, Larry Cook (LarryCook333 on YouTube) had been able to make money from major advertisers while peddling lies.

While he has been booted from GoFundMe and Youtube, Cooks platform on Facebook is still formidable. Hes also been able to fundraise through his website by having membership tiers between 5 and 300 dollars a month although its unclear what such memberships actually buys members.

Cooks Stop Mandatory Vaccinations is still one of the most popular anti-vaxx groups on Facebook, and has a private group alongside it with over 150,000 followers, as well. The group had one million shares over the last year and even if Cook cant run ads anymore, its the ads that got him to such a prominent position in the anti-vaxx community, where hes able to spread disinformation that can harm children and the elderly and bring users back to his site to make money.

Whether or not Cook really believes that vaccines cause autism is irrelevant. Cook stands to gain from the proliferation of the groups, and to lose if he were to be de-platformed or barred from running ads on Facebook.

His website says his latest project and passion is fighting vaccine mandates and links out to two separate websites that promote anti-vaccine information and that regularly feed content to his Stop Mandatory Vaccination group. These groups remain insular disinfor
mation spaces that can lead vulnerable parents and people down rabbit holes, recommending them to join other, anti-vaxx or anti-proven medicine groups. And as long as Facebook and other platforms dont take a stand, people like Cook get to profit off of the fears of these parents, with shady GoFundMe campaigns, unclear membership packages, and books peddling disinformation, the groups will continue. Kids will die. Kids have died.

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Meet Larry Cook, the Villain Behind the Facebook Anti-Vaxx Scandal - Fatherly

(MENAFN - The Peninsula) National Sport Day was first held in Qatar in 2012 and it provides an excellent opportunity to unite the country's residents to take part in fun sporting activities.

But there is another essential aspect to National Sport Day. It is the timely chance to promote healthy living and raise awareness of why an active and sensible lifestyle is important in keeping diseases at bay.

Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), part of Hamad Bin Khalifa University, was launched in the same year as the first National Sport Day. The similarity does not end there as QBRI also actively encourages a healthy lifestyle.

It does so to improve and transform healthcare through innovation in prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting the Qatari population and the region.

QBRI has three centers of excellence - the Cancer Research Center, Diabetes Research Center and Neurological Disorders Research Center - and all three encourage staying active and eating well to reduce the risk of disease.

The Cancer Research Center focuses on understanding the cellular and molecular basis of cancer initiation and progression with a focus on breast cancer, which is the most common type of the disease among females globally.

Dr. Eyad Elkord, a Principal Investigator at the Cancer Research Center, said: 'Maintaining a healthy lifestyle lowers the risk of cancer onset and different studies showed that significant numbers of cancer deaths are due to lifestyle-related risk factors.

Exercise controls tumor growth by mobilising immune cells within the body and releasing some factors from muscles with anti-tumor properties.

'Moreover, regular exercise and healthy eating habits maintain stability within the body, known as hemostasis, and could help to prevent cancer initiation. Aerobic and cardiovascular exercises, coupled with a balanced and nutrient-rich diet, are highly recommended for healthy individuals as well as cancer patients undergoing treatment.

The Diabetes Research Center serves as a catalyst to promote innovative research on both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes and related metabolic disorders. Its primary goal is to gain fundamental knowledge and enhance the understanding of social, molecular and genetic causes of the disease.

Dr. Paul Thornalley, Director of the Diabetes Research Center, said: 'Exercise is good for the health of diabetics, whether they have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. It helps to improve your health and also decrease the risk of complications of diabetes.

Patients with Type 1 diabetes should check with their physician before taking on a new exercise routine to plan how to best manage their blood glucose and insulin injections accordingly.

'For Type 2 diabetes, which is often associated with being overweight and obese, exercise is a good way to control and improve body weight, the body's responsiveness to insulin and blood glucose control. Particularly, in recently-diagnosed Type 2 diabetes, exercise may help along with a decreased calorie intake to reverse the development of diabetes.

'In overweight and obese people, doing more exercise and eating in moderation to lose weight will help prevent developing Type 2 diabetes. It is recommended to do about two-and-a-half hours' exercise per week, said Dr. Thornalley.

The Neurological Disorders Research Center focuses on investigating neural conditions of increasing prevalence in Qatar and the region. These ailments are wide-ranging and include autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.

Dr. Yongsoo Park, a scientist at the Neurological Disorders Research Center, said: 'Neurological disorders result from problems of the central and peripheral nervous system but physical exercises and activities can make our nervous system active and healthy, and therefore reduce the risk of neurological disorders.

'Physical exercise leads to and increases neurogenesis (creating new neurons), neuroplasticity (improving neural networks) and synaptic transmission (enhancing neurotransmitter release and improving brain function) so the neurological benefits of exercise is significant.

For elderly people, yoga, walking, running and swimming are highly recommended, but a healthy diet, good sleep and staying socially engaged with friends and family is also beneficial.

'We should be doing everything we can to lead a healthy lifestyle. That means eating well, exercising, avoiding harmful things, getting enough sleep and avoiding stress, said Dr. Park.

MENAFN1102202000630000ID1099684615

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Qatar- QBRI encourages residents to stay active to improve health - MENAFN.COM

Although a heart-healthy lifestyle is potent medicine in the management of cardiovascular risk, a large Finnish study finds that many but not all patients forgo healthy habits after starting a statin or antihypertensive medication.

Researchers studied 41,225 public-sector workers free of cardiovascular disease at baseline who completed at least two surveys in 4-year intervals from 2000 to 2013.

Results show that body mass index (BMI) ticked up among all participants, but the average increase was larger among those starting an antihypertensive or statin medication (adjusted difference, 0.19; 95% CI, 0.16- 0.22).

Participants who started medications were 82% more likely to become obese (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.82; 95% CI, 1.63- 2.03).

Medication initiators were also more likely to cut back on physical activity (adjusted difference, 0.09 METh/day) and were 8% more likely to become physically inactive (adjusted OR, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.01- 1.17), regardless of their baseline activity.

"My concern when I started this study was that people would think, 'now I don't need to worry about my lifestyle because the medication will do all the work for me.' Our study supports that idea," lead author MaaritJ. Korhonen, PhD, a senior researcher at the University of Turku in Finland, said in an interview.

The study is better than many that have been done before because it looks at lifestyle changes over time but, unfortunately, the results are not that surprising, Russell Luepker, MD, the Mayo Professor of Epidemiology and Community Health at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, told theheart.org| Medscape Cardiology.

"People who get started on medications for their increased cardiovascular risk may let other things slide some," he said. "We live in a pill culture."

The study was published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

Although the data provide more support for the belief that initiation of preventive medication is more likely to substitute for a healthy lifestyle than complement it, there were some positive signs.

Baseline smokers who initiated statin or antihypertensive therapy were 26% more likely to quit smoking than those who remained untreated (adjusted OR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.64- 0.85).

Average weekly alcohol consumption went down more among medication initiators than noninitiators (1.85g/wk; 95% CI, 3.67 to 0.14), although the odds of heavy drinking were similar in the two groups, the authors report.

Korhonen struggled to explain why some healthy habits were adopted and others ignored. Although smoking cessation often results in weight gain, this did not explain the increased BMI finding. Smokers who took medications and quit gained more weight than smokers who quit but were untreated.

During the study period, an intensive national public health effort took place in Finland aimed at increasing awareness of diabetes mellitus and its risk factors, including the same lifestyle factors considered in the study.

"Finnish people with hypertension have also been given information on all these lifestyle changes, and still it looks like there's this divergence," Korhonen said. "So truly I don't have a clear explanation for that."

Although frustrating for physicians, the divergence is "probably not a wash," Luepker said. "I think in the large trials of statins, some of this happens, but the drugs are more powerful."

"What this reinforces to me is that we're good at prescribing things but not very good at making people successful in changing their health behaviors, and these things are additive to the drugs."

That said, Luepker observed that 15-minute physician appointments do not lend themselves to detailed lifestyle discussions and that more support staff and insurance reimbursement are needed to enhance lifestyle-modification counseling.

It is not known whether study participants were given information or counseled on healthy lifestyles but, in general, there is a recommendation that patients see a nurse regularly, "maybe once a year," after being prescribed statins or antihypertensive medications, Korhonen said.

"I think with what has been just stated in the new US [primary prevention] guidelines, which are in line with the European ones, that some new approaches have to be found and used cognitive-behavioral strategies and also this multidisciplinary approach," she added. "We need new ways to get the message across and support the patients."

That message also needs to take into account the patient's health literacy, Nieca Goldberg, MD, medical director of the NYU Women's Heart Program, New York City, told theheart.org| Medscape Cardiology.

"When we speak to patients, we need to figure out what that individual understands," she said. "Not everyone is the same, and every patient you see has a different level of health literacy. So we really need to tailor our messaging to the individual patient to try to figure out what it is that will motivate that patient."

When prescribing statins, Goldberg said she emphasizes the importance of diet and exercise in further reducing cholesterol and cardiovascular risk, but that medication dosage can also be a powerful motivator for some.

"I can only share what I say to my patients and I get relatively good compliance: I tell them that doing these lifestyle changes will help us keep the same dose of medicine," she said. "That seems to be helpful because people have this idea in their mind that getting a higher dosage is a bad thing."

The researchers used pharmacy-claims data to determine medication use but did not have information on participants' diet, blood pressure, or cholesterol levels. Other limitations are the generalizability of the results outside the relatively homogenous sample of mostly white, female workers (84%; mean age, 52 years), Korhonen said.

She noted that the results are in line with previous evidence that comes mostly from cross-sectional studies looking only at statins or only at antihypertensive medications, but that this is probably the largest study conducted on this topic to date that looked at both medications and is also longitudinal.

The main results did not change appreciably in sensitivity and subgroup analyses, although these analyses showed that BMI increases were more pronounced among those taking medications aged 40 to 49 years.

Participants who already had three or four unhealthy behaviors at baseline (n= 1231) were also at particular risk. Those taking preventive medications had greater increases in BMI and decreases in METh/day than noninitiators, with no significant difference in change in average alcohol consumption or in the odds of current smoking.

"To the individuals who start these medications, I would tell them they should make an effort to continue to manage their weight, be physically active, keep alcohol consumption in moderation, and quit smoking because all these changes help them decrease their cardiovascular risk and also live a healthier life overall," Korhonen said.

The study was supported by the Academy of Finland. Korhonen received grant support from the Hospital District of Southwest Finland. Luepker and Goldberg reported having no conflicts of interest.

J Am Heart Assoc. Published online February5, 2020. Full text

Follow Patrice Wendling on Twitter: @pwendl. For more from theheart.org| Medscape Cardiology, join us on Twitter and Facebook.

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Healthy Habits Backslide After Starting Statins, Antihypertensives - Medscape

It may already be February, but there is still plenty of time to live your best life in 2020 with the help of the Secrets to a Healthier, Happier You in 2020 podcast.

After just one week, the stat is that 77 percent of resolution markers are still on track, RxSavers medical expert Dr. Holly Phillips tells Us Weeklys Christina Garibaldi during episode 1 about New Years resolutions. So youve already lost about a quarter of people by the very first week in January. And after six months, 60 percent have dropped out.

Over the course of six episodes, the health experts provide advice for maintaining your mental health, the importance of heart health, exercise tips and more. Scroll through to binge all six episodes:

Episode 1: New Years Resolutions

Whether youre quitting smoking, starting a new diet and exercise plan or just trying to maintain an overall healthy lifestyle, this episode will unveil the tips you need to know when it comes to keeping your New Years resolutions.

Episode 2: Mental Health

It seems that we dont treat people with mental illness with the same compassion as we treat people who have certain physical illnesses, Phillips says in the second episode, which emphasizes that mental health should be treated with the same care as physical health.

Episode 3: Healthy Immune System

On episode 3, learn tips to avoid catching the common cold. If youd like to boost your immune system, make your plate as colorful as possible, Phillips says. Brightly colored fruits and vegetables If its really bright, you know you have the antioxidants you need.

Episode 4: Sleep Secrets

Listen to episode 4 to uncover how rest plays a crucial factor in your energy throughout the day. Make sure that your bedroom is conducive to sleep. It needs to be dark, quiet, and it needs to be cool, Phillips reveals. The best temperature is somewhere between 60 and a high of 72 degrees.

Episode 5: Stay Fit Safely

Episode 5 tackles expert tips about how to protect whats inside your body while working out. When we think about fitness or about hitting the gym, a lot of the focus is on weight loss or maintaining our weight or how we look. But its absolutely critical for the health of our bones, muscles and joints to stay active, the health expert says. Any exercise that puts your body against gravity can help muscles get stronger and better protect your joints.

Episode 6: Heart Health

On the final episode of The Secrets to a Healthier, Happier You in 2020 podcast, Garibaldi and Phillips reveal the importance of heart health and how it affects every aspect of your life. The heart is the center of the body. Its the most important muscle, Phillips explains. It pumps blood and oxygen to all of our organs. We literally cant live without it.

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Binge All 6 EpisodesSecrets to a Healthier, Happier You in 2020! - Life & Style Weekly

February is heart health awareness month, but a shocking number of American adults dont know the signs of a heart attack. In Dec. 2019 study, 47 percent of respondents didnt recognize some of the symptoms, and 6 percent were not familiar with any symptoms at all.

And with nearly half of the countrys adult population suffering from a form of cardiovascular disease, researchers say its imperative for Americans to be educated about the warning signs. Dr. Matthew Tomey, a cardiologist at Mount Sinai St. Lukes, told Fox News that not all patients may experience the same symptoms, which is why its important to recognize each one.

THESE 6 JOBS ARE LINKED TO POOR HEART HEALTH FOR WOMEN

Chest pain is the classic symptom of a heart attack, but it is important to appreciate that different people can experience chest pain in different ways, Tomey said. Chest discomfort associated with a heart attack, also known as acute myocardial infarction, can be felt as pressure, squeezing, heaviness, tightness or even like indigestion. Some people having a heart attack do not feel pain but rather shortness of breath.

And while patients may be quick to dismiss the above symptoms as a product of something else, Tomey warned that certain accompanying features such as sweating, nausea and vomiting or radiation to the arms increase the likelihood that the discomfort are signs of an impending heart attack.

If you think you are having a heart attack, seek immediate medical attention, Tomey said. Key treatments for heart attack, including therapies to restore blood flow to the heart, are most effective when delivered early.

BURNOUT LINKED TO POTENTIALLY LETHAL HEART CONDITION

Tomey also advised against trying to go it alone and to call 911 to get help from paramedics.

Its also important, Tomey said, to recognize that everyone is at risk of a heart attack, but there are certain factors that can increase that risk such as age, gender, high cholesterol, smokingand high blood pressure. Obesity, sedentary lifestyle and diabetes mellitus are also considered risk factors.

Individuals with a family history of a heart attack may also be at increased risk, although it is important to recognize that factors beyond genetics may have affected family members risk for heart attack, Tomey said. For some individuals, additional testing can be helpful to elucidate risk.

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He also said that each of us has the power to reduce risk of heart attack, and it begins with a simple self-assessment to evaluate blood pressure, cholesterol levels, exercise habits, weight, diet and lifestyle factors.

Each of these represents a potentially modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease, he said. For individuals with a family history of heart attack, it is encouraging to learn that family history need not be destiny: adherence to a healthy lifestyle is associated with a substantial reduction in risk.

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Outlook for heart attack survivors also depends on adjusting lifestyle factors and care while under the guidance of a cardiologist, Tomey said.

Today, we are fortunate to have an array of tested therapies to help survivors of heart attack live longer, healthier lives, he said.

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Heart attack symptoms can be more than chest pain - Home - WSFX

February is American Heart Month, and each year health care professionals across the country take time to raise awareness about heart disease. It's the perfect opportunity to think about heart health, and the choices individuals can make that will lead to a lifetime of improved health.

Heart disease affects people in different ways and living a healthier lifestyle and knowing the signs are the best weapons against it. In 2016, cardiovascular disease accounted for 1 in 3 deaths, according to the American Heart Association, and coronary heart disease remains the No. 1 cause of death in the United States.

In the spirit of the month, Dr. Cindy Codispoti, DO, fellowship trained in cardiovascular disease, part of Atlantic Medical Group Cardiology at Hackettstown and on-staff at Hackettstown and Morristown Medical Centers, discusses heart disease and how to take necessary precautions against it.

Q: Are there different types of heart disease?A: Yes, there are numerous types of heart disease. These include, but are not limited to, coronary artery disease (typically blockages in the heart arteries), heart failure, abnormalities of the heart valves, arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms) and congenital heart disease (abnormalities of the heart structure one is born with).

Q: Are men and women affected by heart disease in the same way?

A: Heart disease does not affect all people in the same way, and there are certainly gender differences as well. Some of these differences include the timing of presentation with heart disease. For example, men are at higher risk for developing coronary heart disease earlier in life than women. However, there is a higher incidence of women developing coronary heart disease later in life. Also, symptoms of coronary artery disease may vary more in women than in men. Women are less likely to have classic symptoms of chest pain or pressure beneath the sternum radiating to the jaw or left arm.

Women may be more prone to heart failure than men, especially as it relates to coronary artery disease. Additionally, women are more prone to a few specific diagnoses, such as coronary artery spasm, which can cause chest pain or even heart attack. Women also are more likely to develop an entity called 'broken heart syndrome,' which is acute heart failure that presents like a heart attack. This is typically triggered by a significant life stressor, such as the death of a loved one. We see this more in females than males.

In addition to gender differences, we are increasingly aware that ethnic differences affect risk of heart disease as well, and these must be strongly considered.

Q: Is there any way to tell between bad indigestion and a heart attack?A: This is not so clear, unfortunately. Certainly, if symptoms are directly related to eating and easily relieved with antacids, the symptoms may be due to acid reflux. However, if patients with risk factors for heart artery disease (diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, cigarette smoking, family history, and older than 45 in males and 55 in females) are experiencing these symptoms, they should seek expert advice from their doctors.

Q: Do you have any advice for women who are concerned with heart health?A: Yes. Take ownership of your health. Choose a clean and healthy lifestyle to protect your heart. Our world is full of stressors. Find healthy outlets for that stress and emphasize daily exercise. Prioritize heart health. As natural caregivers, this can be easy to brush off, making everyone else a priority. Lastly, know that there are experienced cardiologists in the community who are happy to serve you if you do have problems with your heart or risk factors for heart disease.

Visit atlanticmedicalgroup.org for more information.

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Commit to Good Health During February and American Heart Month - Patch.com

Healthy habits such as regular exercise and a healthy diet can add up to 10 years of disease-free life, according to a major study published in theBritish Medical Journal (BMJ). The study, which examined health data of over 110,000 participants between 1980-2014, found that some long-term healthy habits can have a meaningful impact on our lives.

Representational image.Image by StockSnap from Pixabay

The habits included not smoking, exercising for at least 30 minutes a day, drinking moderately, following a healthy diet and maintaining a BMI between 18 and 25. The study found that those who consistently followed these habits had a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer and type 2 diabetes.

According to the data, women over 50 with healthy lifestyle habits were likely to live for 41 more years, whereas women who didnt have any of these healthy habits were likely to live for 31 more years. Similarly, with men, those with healthy habits would likely live another 39 years as opposed to 31 years for those who had no healthy habits. The data was based on questionnaires conducted every two years and corroborated by the health records of the participants.

The study also suggested that those with healthy habits would also survive longer after contracting chronic diseases. Men who smoked a lot and those with a BMI of over 30 performed the poorest.

The disparities the study highlights are substantial. Encouragingly, since the behaviours are modifiable, there are many steps we can take to make our lifestyle healthier and lives longer and happier. Here are some tips based on the findings of the study:

1. Eat a balanced diet: A balanced diet includes a range of food groups in the right quantity so it satisfies the dietary requirements of essential minerals and vitamins. Here are some recommendations.

2. Get exercising: 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise per week is important. This comes down to 30 minutes spaced between 5 days. What is moderate aerobic exercise? It is a workout that will raise your heart rate and breathing and make you feel warmer. Activities like brisk walking, hiking, cycling, dancing and even pushing a lawnmower can be a good idea.

3. Limit alcohol intake and quit smoking: We have the tendency to forget that alcohol contains calories as well. Drinking excessively will have an impact on your waistline. Smoking is associated with terrible long-term health outcomes and quitting is in the best interests of you and your loved ones. Nicotine replacement therapies along with counselling have been showing encouraging results.

Working every day on your health will have a big impact on your overall wellbeing. Now is as good a time as any to invest in yourself!

For more information, read our article on aBalanced Diet.

Health articles in Firstpost are written by myUpchar.com, Indias first and biggest resource for verified medical information. At myUpchar, researchers and journalists work with doctors to bring you information on all things health.

Updated Date: Feb 10, 2020 18:29:44 IST

Tags : Diet Tips, Exercise For Long Life, Healthy Habits, Life Span, Longevity, NewsTracker

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3 healthy habits that can help you live 10 years longer - Firstpost

The age-old secret to a longer and healthier life really comes down to ones lifestyle which includes regular exercise, limiting alcohol intake, not smoking and eating a healthy balanced diet. Good nutrition is key to leading a healthy lifestyle. No major surprise really that those who follow healthy diets tend to lead longer and healthier lives. However with the bombardment of the latest and greatest diets its easy for one to get bogged down with information overload. According to leading health experts and scientists, there is a diet that proves tops when it comes to living long and healthy.

According to a new study published in The Journal of Nutrition, veganism may be the secret to a longer life.

The study, which looked how various diets impact biomarkers, found that vegans have the most antioxidants in their bodies.

This is largely due to their higher intake of fruit and vegetables.

In fact, vegans have substantially lower death rates than meat-eaters. For several decades, research has consistently found that a vegetarian diet, which is mainly made up of vegetables, fruits, nuts, legumes and wholegrain, can reduce risk of major diseases and help you live longer.

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A team of researchers at Loma Linda University has shown vegetarian men live for an average of 10 years longer than non-vegetarian men.

For women, being vegetarian added an extra six years to their lives, helping them reach 85 years on average.

The Loma Linda team were also behind the ground-breaking Adventist Health Study-1 regarding life expectancy.

This study was considered the gold standard in the world of nutrition because it was a comprehensive, long-term study that involved a large number of people.

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For 14 years, Loma Linda researchers tracked diets, lifestyle and diseases among 34,000 participants who dont smoke or drink.

The study found that there were five key habits that could help add years to ones life.

They were eating a plant-based diet, eating a handful of nuts regularly, being active, not smoking and being a healthy weight.

The research found on average these lifestyle factors could each provide an extra two to three years to ones life.

A growing number of similar studies have linked plant-based diets to many health benefits, including lower risk of cancers and heart disease.

Sticking to an overall plant-based diet or a diet that includes more plant foods than animal foods could be associated with a 16 percent lower risk of cardiovascular disease and up to 25 percent lower risk of early death.

Assistant professor at the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Casey Rebholz said: Plant-based diets emphasise higher intakes of plant foods and lower intakes of animal foods.

Animal foods include meat, eggs, dairy and fish or seafood.

In our studies, we did not define plant-based diets on the basis of complete exclusion of animal foods from the diet but rather ranked individuals according to their relative frequency of intake of the foods.

Dr Michelle McMacken, director of the plant-based lifestyle medicine program at NYC health + Hospitals added: The higher the proportion of plant foods in the diet, the lower the risk of cancers and cardiovascular events and death from any cause.

"Reason for this is, first this diet is higher in beneficial nutrients such as fibre, plant fats, potassium and antioxidants and lower in potentially harmful nutrients such as animal-based iron, animal fats and nitrite preservatives.

"Second, plant-based diets are also linked to healthier body weights, lower inflammation, lower risk of type 2 diabetes, better blood pressure and blood vessel function, and beneficial gut bacterial metabolites. All of these factors translate in lower risk of diseases.

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How to live longer: The best diet proven to increase life expectancy and ward off cancer - Express