PETER'S PRINCIPLES - September 3 - 7, 2007
Mary from Milford emails asking how she can find out if she's at risk of heart disease.
Mary, take out the tape measure and measure your waist.
A new study found people with larger waistlines are more likely to show the early signs of heart disease than those with smaller waists.
Reseachers studied almost 3 thousand middle aged people. They used MRI scans to look for early signs of clogged arteries. They found the smaller the person's waist, the clearer his or her arteries were.
Several previous studies have shown waist size is clearly linked to heart attack, stroke and heart disease risk. Because of this, the U.S. Government set guidelines advising men to have a waist circumference of 40 inches or less, women should be 35 inches or less.
Sandy from Dearborn suffers with a lot of migraines-should she be concerned?
Sandy, you should definitely talk to your doctor about your pain and be sure to mention details of this new study.
Researchers found women who suffer migraines have an increased risk of stroke.
The increase was greatest in women who suffer the headaches along with visual symptoms often known as "aura". The risk was significantly increased if women-who suffered from migraines with visual problems- also smoked or used oral contraceptives.
If you suffer with migraines and you smoke, it's critical you kick the habit. If you're taking oral contraceptives, talk to your doctor about other options.
Tony from Walled Lake is starting an exercise routine, he emails asking how many days should he workout and for how long?
That's a great question Tony. I've always said to exercise for at least 30 minutes a day five days a week and now two leading health groups are supporting those recommendations.
The American Heart Association and the American College of Sports Medicine recommend adults do moderate exercise 30 minutes five days a week or vigorous exericse at least 20 minutes three days a week.
The groups add- doing more than the recommended amounts provides even better health benefits. It's also recommended you do strength training as well as cardiovascular exercise.
This is critical for adults 65 or older who lose muscle mass as they age which increases their risk of illness and falls.
Peggy from Madison Heights is concerned about the childhood obesity epidemic. What can she do to make sure her children develop the right eating habits?
This is a great question! The answer is, teach them early-they are listening!
In fact a new study found teaching children from a young age to eat a low fat diet can be so effective it can carry into young adulthood. Researchers followed more than one thousand children since age 7 months until age 14. They found children began forming their eating and lifestyle habits very early. Experts say the earlier you teach your children to eat properly the more likely you are to be successful.
The study also found those children who were taught to focus on healthy fats like those found in fish and nuts, had slightly lower cholesterol levels.
Glen from Sterling Heights emails he's concerned about all the muscle he's losing as he gets older. Is there anything he can do to boost up his muscle mass?
Absolutely! Add some protein to your diet.
A new study finds eating protein can build just as much muscle in older adults as younger adults. Researchers studied two groups of men and women. One older than 65, the other in their 30's and 40's. They took blood samples before and after the groups ate protein. Within 5 hours of eating that meal, both groups-the older and younger-showed a similar increase in muscle building protein.
It's very common for older people to lose muscle mass as they age, which increases their risk of illness and falls. So it's critical for senior citizens to continue building muscle. The best way is not only adding more protein to your diet, but exercise as well.
Do you have a question you've been working on? Send me an email!
