Fight Winter Inactivity with Exercise!
We make hay while the sun shines, but as soon as the temperature falls we dread leaving the cozy, warm indoors. All the health activities that we pursue all year round take a back seat and our bodies get used to the inactivity. Today you have multiple options of staying fit indoors even during the cold winters without falling sick. The only safety precaution is to wear warm clothing in layers and not to overdo any activity. It’s time to get off your couch and begin the calorie burn!
A few simple ways of exercising and maintaining fitness during the winters have been listed below:
1. Walking:
Yes! Walking can be fun even in the snow. In fact, walking in the snow tends to burn double the amount of calories than walking on a plain surface as you need to push harder to pave your way through the snow. Remember to wear the winter clothing in layers so that you can pull them off as you get warmer. [1] And while you are walking in the snow, a little bit of slow running or playing around can increase the fat burning and also increase cardiovascular endurance. Make sure it’s all on snow, never ice!
2. Take the stairs or the street:
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Reducing Knee Replacement Pain
Osteoarthritis is a condition characterized by the degeneration of joint cartilage, most commonly affecting the knees. It results in pain, stiffness, swelling, and restricted mobility. Unrelenting pain and impaired function call for a knee replacement surgery during which the surgeon replaces the damaged parts with metal or plastic prosthesis. More than half the population worldwide is affected by osteoarthritis. This surgery aims at giving a better life to patients, but the procedure itself involves pain as a major problem following surgery. The good news is that better pain relief measures have been discovered that can give a pain-free life immediately after surgery.
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Run a Mile to Keep your Smile!
Researchers have extensively studied the relation between running and arthritis of the knees to conclude that running regularly may not increase the risk of osteoarthritis. In fact, running can prevent arthritis of the knee in runners.
This study contained data from 2600 people who used to perform some form of physical activity in their life. Study age groups were divided into 12-18, 19-34, 35-49 and 50 and older. Finally, 29% of the people were runners at some point of time in their lives.
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Cardiac risks higher in patients with arthritis, psoriasis
A higher cardiac event risk was thought to exist in patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, but little was known about the link between psoriatic arthritis and heart disease. Psoriasis is a chronic auto-immune disorder that affects people in middle age worldwide. This disorder has affected more than 7.5 million people as per the data shared by National Psoriasis Foundation.
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X-Ray Imaging and Technology
Each year, the inexorable development of new technologies drives our modern economy. It seems only yesterday the flip phone ruled and few could imagine smart phones dominating the market place. Just as new smart phones constantly roll off assembly lines and vehicles become ever more intelligent, medical technology continually advances. Nowhere clearer is this fact than in the development of x-ray systems.
Running May Not Cause Arthritis
Researchers have extensively studied the relation between running and arthritis of knees to conclude that running regularly may not increase the risk of osteoarthritis. In fact, running can prevent arthritis of the knee in runners.
This study contained data from 2600 people who used to perform some form of physical activity in their life. The age groups were divided into 12-18, 19-34, 35-49 and 50 or older. 29 % of the people were runners at some point of time in their lives.
Physical Activity May Treat Depression
Studies say that today depression is a mental illness which affects about one in ten people. Depression is a condition where a person feels useless, hopeless and extremely sad. This can happen without any apparent reason. The episodes last for long and occur frequently to the point that it affects the daily functioning of the person. Traditional treatment is performed with anti-depressants and psychotherapy.
Recent studies conducted by the University of Bern show that regular physical exercise can help alleviate symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress. Physical activity is known to be beneficial for overall health and prevention of cardiac diseases. The basic cause of depression is the deficiency of a certain chemical known as serotonin. Serotonin is an important chemical in the brain which is responsible for a variety of functions related to mood, sleep and appetite. Thereby, a deficiency of serotonin leads to depression, but what causes this deficiency is yet unknown.
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Implants for the Future
The world health organization (WHO) has stated that by 2050 the largest population of the world will comprise people above the age of 50. This tells us the gravity and vastness of the age related issues that will be encountered in the near future. The commonest of these age related problems are joint and bone disorders which call for surgeries like knee replacement and hip replacement to promise a better quality life to the elderly. However, the difficult part is recovery from these major surgeries with quick bone healing.
A group of scientists from the University of Malaya and four other universities in the US have found a technique of developing better biomedical implants to accelerate bone healing. An implant is a medical device made of a biomedical material that is fitted into the body to act as a missing biological structure. A study published on the front cover of the July issue of Applied Surface Science, reveals that the researchers have been successful in making new biomedical implants. These use magnesium coatings that do not crack, reducing the chance of post surgery complications.
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New Method Increases Bone Density
Researchers from the University of Liverpool have found a new system which helps increase muscle contractions and eventually increases bone density.
This new method is extremely helpful in initial rat models and experiments. The results showed a 30% hike in bone growth, improving bone density. This new device is called a ‘miniature muscle pacemaker’ and is designed to produce contractions in the muscles. These miniature muscle pacemakers were designed by Professor Jonathan Jarvis of Liverpool John Moores University. In the rats, they were placed on the legs for a period of 28 days.
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Omega-3 Fatty Acids May Lessen Severity of Osteoarthritis
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center have found that unhealthy dietary habits along with obesity can accelerate the degenerative process of osteoarthritis. The findings of the study were recently published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases and stated that ingestion of unhealthy dietary fats leads to the worsening of the osteo-arthritic joint condition.
Obesity is the primary cause of joint degeneration but the process is hastened by unhealthy eating habits. It was found that consumption of omega 3 fatty acids can protect joints in case of osteoarthritis. It does not revert osteoarthritic changes but helps in slowing the degenerative process. Omega 3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties and are good for the heart. Their routine consumption is considered helpful for patients. The Duke trial showed that omega 3 fatty acids (when given to mice) reduced the severity of the osteoarthitic joint pain. It was also shown that these mice had wounds that healed quickly as opposed to mice who did not receive the supplement. The Omega-3 supplement is easily found in fish and fish oil supplements.
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