FRIDAY, Sept. 14, 2018 (American Heart Association) — He kept it from family members, friends and employers. Some of Walter Washington’s children still don’t know their father struggles to read and write. But his doctors knew. The 64-year-old Dallas man told them because he didn’t want to risk taking the wrong dose of his diabetes…  read on >

Optimism and a sense of purpose can improve your heart health, new research suggests. Psychological well-being has cardiovascular benefits because people with a positive outlook are more inclined to lead a healthy lifestyle, the researchers concluded. Upbeat people are more likely to eat well, engage in physical activity, maintain social connections and avoid negative behaviors,…  read on >

Practicing yoga can bolster your overall fitness while improving posture and flexibility, the U.S. National Library of Medicine says. While the agency notes yoga is safe for most people, those who are pregnant or have high blood pressure, glaucoma or sciatica may be at greater risk of injury. The NLM suggests: Talk with a doctor…  read on >

With the U.S. Open championship set to conclude Sunday in New York City, a new study shows that male and female professional tennis players have the same rate of age-related declines in physical ability. This was a surprising finding because men and women have different patterns of aging, according to the researchers at the University…  read on >

Being physically active is one of the most important steps people of all ages can take to improve their health. Yet despite everything we know about the benefits of exercise, only half of U.S. adults and only about a quarter of high school students get the amount recommended in national guidelines. If you haven’t gotten…  read on >

Weekly fitness guidelines can seem like a laundry list of to-do’s that you just can’t get done — 30 minutes of cardio at least five days, resistance training two or three days, and at least two flexibility sessions … each and every week. Yet each type of exercise does the body good, so it’s important…  read on >

Most people know that regular exercise and healthy eating can help you age better. But you may be surprised to learn that participating in activities you enjoy also can support healthy aging. Whether it’s traveling, taking in a weekly movie or joining a card group, leading an active lifestyle and avoiding social isolation can help…  read on >

Low back pain is a common health complaint. And if it sidelines you for too long, it can lead to weight gain, a loss in your fitness level and keep you from doing things you love. But not moving isn’t the answer — specific exercises can help you get back to everyday activities. If you’re…  read on >

Regular exercise is a mainstay of healthy lifestyle. But a compulsive need to exercise actually may be harmful. When bad weather, illness or injury don’t afford a day of rest, you may have a compulsive exercise disorder. Compulsive exercise can lead to worsening injury, loss of too much weight, social isolation, anxiety and depression, experts…  read on >

It’s an age-old question, whether it’s better to exercise before or after eating. Research done in the United Kingdom might provide the impetus for some people: According to a small study, exercise burns more body fat when you do it on an empty stomach. The research compared the effects of exercising after eating breakfast to…  read on >