Friday 24 May 2013

LONG HOURS OF SITTING MAY CAUSE HEART ATTACK

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Frequent fliers spend hours crouched in an airplane seat, hooked to a book or a video, only to emerge and stand upright when the plane hits the ground.

The same situation applies to long distance train and bus travellers or if you go on a trip in your car. So, it is imperative to move around frequently and avoid sitting for hours in your seat to prevent blood clots that can be dangerous and in some cases fatal.

Sitting in the same position for hours can cause blood clots in the legs that can be fatal if not treated on time. 

DVT or deep vein thrombosis, as it is called, is a blood clot that forms in the deep veins of the leg or pelvis. Long hours of sitting can lead to such blood clots which when they break free from their initial position can travel through the bloodstream right up to the lungs where they become a pulmonary embolism.

A pulmonary embolism or PE is a blockage of the main artery of the lung or one of its branches by a substance that has travelled from elsewhere in the body through the bloodstream. This blockage that may cause obstruction of the blood flow or oxygen flow through the lungs can lead to a heart attack.

Why the link between long travel hours and blood clots?

"If your body or any part of it is deprived of movement for a long time, this inhibits blood circulation. If blood collects at one place in the legs, the platelets tend to stick to each other, forming a clot.

In a research released in 2007, World Health Organization (WHO) that examined the Global Hazards of Travel, found that the risk of developing clots approximately doubles if you trip last four hours or more.

Tips to follow when you are travelling for long hours:

- When travelling, make it a routine to carry on with up-and-down movements of the feet at the ankle joints. This encourages blood flow and prevents stagnation.
- Stand up from your seat and move about the flight every 30 minutes, or if you are driving on a long distance road trip, take frequent breakes.
- It is also important to keep yourself appropriately hydrated by drinking a lot of water.
- For people, who already have cardiac-related issues, they should always meet a doctor before travelling and make sure they carry their medicines along.
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TECHNIQUES TO DECREASE CHOLESTEROL LEVEL

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How to lower cholesterol is becoming a global concern given how adversely it affects health. High cholesterol can cut down your lifespan due to various conditions like heart attack, high blood pressure etc.

Hence, whether you were recently diagnosed with high cholesterol or have been living with it for a while, your main goal for healthy living is to control it. The good news is that you don't have to completely rely on medicines and numerous prescriptions to lower your cholesterol; you can lower your cholesterol level just by adopting a few changes in your lifestyle. Follow these simple and effective techniques  to lower your cholesterol levels :


Techniques to Lower Cholesterol # 1: Set a goal


Before adopting the goal of lowering your cholesterol, check with your doctor as to how much cholesterol level you need to get down. Lowering of the cholesterol can depend on various factors like obesity, heart disease, your current cholesterol level and smoking habits. Hence, voluntarily don't take up goals, as this can lead to serious life-threatening complications.

Techniques to Lower Cholesterol # 2: Increase physical activity


Include at least 30 minutes of exercise in your daily life. Exercise is one of the best techniques to lower cholesterol. It also helps to kick out stress, shed some kilos, boosts metabolism, kills some calories, reduces the level of triglycerides, helps to achieve a healthy weight and cuts down your risk for heart disease and diabetes.


Techniques to Lower Cholesterol # 3: Shed those extra pounds


Check if you're obese or overweight using a BMI calculator. Obesity or being overweight is very dangerous, as it stores fat in your body. Slimming down is the best way to combat this problem if you are overweight. Don't get fooled with quick weight loss or crash-diet program as it has several health harming effects. Follow a decent healthy program laid down by your dietician or your doctor to lower cholesterol by losing some extra weight.

Techniques to Lower Cholesterol # 4: Fight cholesterol with beans


Include these nutritious and healthy beans in your diet at least 3-4 times a week. Beans are the best weapons to fight cholesterol due to the presence of water soluble fibre called pectin. This fibre binds onto cholesterol and kicks it out of the body before causing any havoc in your body.

Techniques to Lower Cholesterol # 5: Walking is good for your heart


If you fail to match up time to go to a gym due to your hectic schedule, then need not to worry, walking is one of the best form of physical activity available-which is cheap and convenient. Skip your vehicles and go walking to your near-by destination. Brisk walking even for 20-40 minutes will help you drop your cholesterol level by 8.3 percent and also lower your heart disease risk.

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TOP 10 SUMMER SPORTS TO GET YOU IN SHAPE

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Bored of hitting the gym every day this summer? Don't fret! Fitness can be achieved through fun sports too.

There are several fun sports that can help you achieve great health and fitness. Here are a list of top 10 summer sports you can play to maintain your fitness.

Tennis
Tennis is undoubtedly the best way to pass your time leisurely and improve your health. Playing tennis helps in moving your body and keeps your mind alert. Since it is a low-impact sport, you don't need a lot of strength and skills to play the game. Hence a good option for toning.

Football
Football or soccer is one of the best summer sports, as it engages players to run fast and slow - with sudden balance shifts. This helps to build stamina and works for interval training too. Being a continuous game, it is extremely effective for fitness and cardiovascular health.

Cricket
This favourite Indian sport provides a number of benefits to its player along with gallons of excitement. Cricket helps in endurance, stamina, balance and co-ordination and physical fitness. It also improves hand-eye co-ordination.

Frisbee
Frisbee is a swift and easy sport which can be played with anyone, anywhere. Besides adding the fun quotient, this has health benefits too. Throwing a frisbee is a good cardio-vascular workout, it uses your thigh muscles and arms too. It improves balance and helps to develop better landing skills.

Volleyball
Summer volleyball is one of the best sports workouts. This sport helps you burn calories and improves your muscular system.

Cycling
Cycling is a good summer sport option, because you don't need company. All you have to do is pick your bicycle and race for good health. Cycling helps to build strength, tones muscles, builds stamina, burns calories, improves heart health and reduces stress.

Swimming
Swimming is the best way to help your body cool down during summer. Since, swimming involves your entire body; it is the best full-body workout. It helps you to relax, builds endurance, tones your muscles, maintains a healthy weight and improves flexibility.

Dancing
Dance is an amazingly fun activity. It allows people to enjoy, socialise and develop creative skills. Dancing for 30 minutes helps to keep the body active, helps to improve strength and flexibility, improves posture and balance, reduces stress levels and burns calories.

Badminton
Racquet sport is good for people of all ages. Badminton helps to burn calories, maintains healthy weight, and improves cardiovascular fitness.

Hiking
Hiking is a good recreational activity. It helps to improve muscular fitness, reduce depression, maintains healthy weight and lubricates your joints well. So, plan a trek this weekend to enjoy a peaceful traffic-less zone.
   
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