Cities can be designed in ways that promote walking, providing residents with built-in health benefits, a new study says. People who live in more walkable cities do indeed get more daily steps, researchers reported Aug. 13 in the journal Nature. Average steps increase or decrease by about 1,100 per day when people move between cities… read on > read on >
Nearly half of U.S. adults should receive earlier treatment for high blood pressure, including lifestyle changes and medications, according to a set of new guidelines issued by America’s top heart health groups. The guidelines call for early and more individualized treatment for the nearly 47% of Americans who have an average blood pressure of 130/80… read on > read on >
Kids’ academic test scores might improve if they boost their brain power with some high-intensity exercise before picking up a pen, a new pilot study says. Children had significantly higher test scores after they spent nine minutes performing high-knee walking, jumping jacks, lunges and squats, researchers report in the journal Psychology of Sport & Exercise.… read on > read on >
Slightly altering your stride while walking could considerably ease pain caused by wear-and-tear knee arthritis, a new study says. Foot positioning while walking can reduce stress on a person’s knee joint, researchers reported Aug. 12 in The Lancet Rheumatology. People trained to angle their feet slightly inward or outward from their natural alignment experienced slower… read on > read on >
A mobile smartphone app can help reduce the risk of death among people at high risk for suicide, a new study says. The app, called OTX-202, reduced suicide attempts by 58% among a large group of recently discharged psychiatric patients who had previously attempted suicide, researchers reported Aug. 8 in JAMA Network Open. App users… read on > read on >
Adding distance to your daily walk and picking up your pace can help reduce risk of heart problems associated with high blood pressure, a new study says. Compared to a minimum step count of 2,300 steps, every 1,000 additional steps are associated with a 17% lower risk of heart attack, heart failure and stroke, researchers… read on > read on >
The Presidential Fitness Test is returning to U.S. schools after more than a decade. President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday to bring back the program, which aims to improve physical fitness among students. The test was launched in 1956 and ended in 2013. U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy… read on > read on >
If you’ve had a heart attack or are in heart failure, doctors often prescribe cardiac rehabilitation to strengthen your heart. A new study contends that these programs are also appropriate for folks with the common irregular heartbeat known as atrial fibrillation (A-Fib), and may even help treat the condition. That could be game-changing news: Up till… read on > read on >
Two years’ involvement in programs focused on healthy eating, regular exercise and “brain training” exercises appears to have helped a wide range of older adults — even those at heightened risk for Alzheimer’s — avoid cognitive decline, a new study finds. The findings, presented Monday at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Toronto, “encourage us… read on > read on >
Want to cut your odds of an early death by almost 20%? Take just 15 minutes out of your day for a brisk walk, researchers advise. While it’s known that regular walking is healthy, the new study suggests maintaining a peppy pace is key. “Individuals should strive to incorporate more intense physical activity into their… read on > read on >
