Lower-Back Pain Relief

A new study conducted by the National Institute of Health found that stretching and yoga can significantly reduce lower-back pain.  While yoga and stretching classes are often conducted in health clubs and studios, you can take advantage of the two at home.  There are many different videos on YouTube that give great instruction, and you can also find many instructional videos on some cable television channels.  Personally, sometimes when the weather is crumby I go to my On Demand cable feature and do a 50 minute yoga class.  It's a great workout and I don't even need to leave my family room!

The Health Benefits of Swimming

When I exercise I prefer to jog or do aerobics, but sometimes joint aches prevent me from doing so. For many years now, when this occurs, I turn to the water and get my workout in the pool.  Because of human's natural buoyancy, we are able to maneuver in the water and exercise without putting the stress of our own weight on our bodies.  This means we can do all sorts of exercises without straining our joints or bones.  Additionally, swimming laps using the freestyle stroke exercises every major muscle group in the body.  Swimming for thirty minutes can go a long way toward building muscle strength, getting a good cardiovascular workout, and shedding pounds.  And if you join a water aerobics class it can be a great social outlet.  So if you ever feel joint pain, or if you just feel like cooling off in the water, know that swimming is a great way to exercise!

National Breast Cancer Awarness Month

If any of you are football fans, you may have noticed NFL players wearing pink this weekend.  New fashion trend?  No.  The NFL does this every October in order to promote National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women, and one of the leading causes of death for them.  Knowing the signs and symptoms of breast cancer is extremely important, for the sooner it is detected, the less harm it will likely cause.  At this website you will find almost everything you need to know about breast cancer: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001911/

National Council on Aging Receives $50,000 Grant to Educate Seniors on Hearing Loss

"One out of every four older Americans has an undetected or untreated hearing loss, and NCOA's research has shown that most older adults with hearing loss do not realize how much the quality of their lives has been affected," said Jim Firman, the president and CEO of NCOA, or the National Council on Aging.  United Health Foundation announced that they would give $50,000 to the NCOA to increase awareness among seniors about hearing loss and to work with health professionals to widen screening.  Often, decreases in hearing occur slowly and therefore go untreated.  Because loss in hearing can lead to social isolation and depression, it is a serious health issue.  To find out more information, visit www.unitedhealthfoundation.org, and even if you cannot receive a screeing from the NCOA, contact your local Agency on Aging to set up a hearing screening.