Jack Lalanne died at the age of 96 this week, and there have been many tributes to him. But I haven't heard of him being spoken of as a women's health hero. But that's how I think of him.
When Lalanne begin spreading his fitness gospel, there were few out there doing likewise. The kind of fitness he championed -- using weights, pushing yourself to the limit, was initially viewed as "too much," for men, so certainly it wasn't a message for women, who were thought of back then as being delicate.
But that's the thing about Jack Lalanne - he never differentiated. He had no separate messages for men, or for women. Or for you people, or those who were older. When he talked about health and fitness, he was talking about all of us -- men, women, kids -- even his beloved white German Shepard, Happy. Living a healthy lifestyle was for everyone.
And genetics? Don't get Jack started. His father died at 50. But, as he said in an interview when he was 91, "I don't care how long I live. I just want to be LIVING while I am living. I want to be able to do things. I want to look good, and I want to get my message out to the people."
And so he did -- he got his message out to ALL of the people. Thanks, Jack!
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Preventing Heart Disease in Women: Lowering Blood Pressure Benefits Women Most
Preventing Heart Disease in Women: Lowering Blood Pressure Even More Beneficial For W...: "It's long been known that high blood pressure and heart disease are linked, so I found myself eying a news item on a new study that finds lo..."
Lowering Blood Pressure Even More Beneficial For Women
It's long been known that high blood pressure and heart disease are linked, so I found myself eying a news item on a new study that finds lowering blood pressure in women results in heart health with a quizzical eye. "Why is this news?" I wondered. (Of course, with a 24-hour news cycle, EVERYTHING is news).
But then I read beyond the headlines, and I found some important news indeed. What this study found is that paring high blood pressure reduced heart disease risk by over one-third (36%) in women, so it's an even more major risk factor than was thought. In fact, that's a greater decrease in heart disease for women than for men. (The percentage for men, which was only 24 percent, but Don't let that "only" fool you guys, as 24 percent is a hefty number indeed).
The study also found that it doesn't take much of an increase in blood pressure to hike up risk; a relatively small increase of 15 points in systolic blood pressure (that's the upper number in a blood pressure reading) increased the risk of heart disease by a whopping 52 percent in women and 32 percent in men.
High blood pressure also raises the risk of stroke and heart failure. So if you think you might have high blood pressure, or if you haven't had it checked in awhile, see your doctor. Experts recommend an annual check, unless your at risk for heart disease.
The study was published in Hypertension, a publication of the American Heart Association.
The ideas, procedures and suggestions contained in this blog are not intended as a substitute for consulting with your physician
But then I read beyond the headlines, and I found some important news indeed. What this study found is that paring high blood pressure reduced heart disease risk by over one-third (36%) in women, so it's an even more major risk factor than was thought. In fact, that's a greater decrease in heart disease for women than for men. (The percentage for men, which was only 24 percent, but Don't let that "only" fool you guys, as 24 percent is a hefty number indeed).
The study also found that it doesn't take much of an increase in blood pressure to hike up risk; a relatively small increase of 15 points in systolic blood pressure (that's the upper number in a blood pressure reading) increased the risk of heart disease by a whopping 52 percent in women and 32 percent in men.
High blood pressure also raises the risk of stroke and heart failure. So if you think you might have high blood pressure, or if you haven't had it checked in awhile, see your doctor. Experts recommend an annual check, unless your at risk for heart disease.
The study was published in Hypertension, a publication of the American Heart Association.
The ideas, procedures and suggestions contained in this blog are not intended as a substitute for consulting with your physician
Monday, January 24, 2011
Preventing Heart Disease in Women: Fitness Guru Jack Lalanne's Joyful Spirit Will Li...
Preventing Heart Disease in Women: Fitness Guru Jack Lalanne's Joyful Spirit Will Li...: "Although Jack Lalanne shaped his life trying to inspire Americans to exercise, I find myself thinking about some of the other lessons that c..."
Fitness Guru Jack Lalanne's Joyful Spirit Will Live On
Although Jack Lalanne shaped his life trying to inspire Americans to exercise, I find myself thinking about some of the other lessons that can be learned upon the death of this great man. And not all of them have to do with fitness.
It is beyond dispute that Lalanne was a pioneer, who urged not only men, but also women, to leap off the coach and pick up some weights. This was in the days when, although it was acceptable for men to heft weights, it was thought that women were far too delicate for such pursuits.
In addition, I was stuck by the fact that, years ago, Jack Lalanne invented many of the machines used at today's gym. He lacked the foresight to patent his designs, though, and others reaped the profit. He was never bitter, though, he only urged his viewers to practice happiness. "People have everything, but they have lost the ability to smile," he lamented. "What's the good to wear fine clothes, and drive fancy cars if you're miserable all the time?"
Judging from accounts of his passing, he lived his message until he drew his last breath. We can only be inspired to do the same.
It is beyond dispute that Lalanne was a pioneer, who urged not only men, but also women, to leap off the coach and pick up some weights. This was in the days when, although it was acceptable for men to heft weights, it was thought that women were far too delicate for such pursuits.
In addition, I was stuck by the fact that, years ago, Jack Lalanne invented many of the machines used at today's gym. He lacked the foresight to patent his designs, though, and others reaped the profit. He was never bitter, though, he only urged his viewers to practice happiness. "People have everything, but they have lost the ability to smile," he lamented. "What's the good to wear fine clothes, and drive fancy cars if you're miserable all the time?"
Judging from accounts of his passing, he lived his message until he drew his last breath. We can only be inspired to do the same.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Know your family risk factors for heart disease
Recently, I interviewed Gloria, a vibrant former soldier and athlete who, at 40, is busy training to run in the Disney Princess Half Marathon. She is slender and fit, and, by looking at her, it is impossible to tell that she underwent coronary bypass surgery three years ago to avoid a potentially fatal heart attack, but that is indeed the case.
In fact, the cardiologist that she consulted laughed at her. But, thankfully, he also took her seriously, even though he was surprised when her test results showed she did have severe coronary heart disease.
What Gloria and her doctor didn't realize at the time was that, although she was slender and fit, her family medical history showed that she was indeed at serious risk for a heart attack.
"It turned out that everyone on my mom's side had heart disease, high blood pressure and/or diabetes. Out of my mom's eight siblings, only two have survived. The rest all died between the ages of 37-65," she says.
Gloria's experience shows the importance of knowing your family history. Family history is a very important clue to the possibility that you may have inherited a tendency for heart disease. And, as I note in my book, "Beat Your Risk Factors," when you do your family medical history, keep in mind these key points:
1) Both your relatives on your father's side and your mother's side count.
2) Divide your relatives into first-degree (parents and siblings), second-degree (grandparents, aunts and uncles) and third-degree relatives (first cousins and great-grandparents). First-degree relatives generally count most.
3) Pay attention to age. Generally, the earlier a disease occurs, the more likely it is there may be an inherited component. Typically, women develop heart disease 10-15 years later than men, so their risk increases when they reach 55-60 years old. So pay attention if you have close female relatives who suffered heart attacks or were diagnosed with heart disease significantly younger than that.
Knowing your family history provides you with the opportunity to take steps to make sure that you don't die from what killed your parents.
I discuss family history in the talks I give throughout the country on Preventing Heart Disease in Women. For more information, visit Women's Health Hot Line.
In fact, the cardiologist that she consulted laughed at her. But, thankfully, he also took her seriously, even though he was surprised when her test results showed she did have severe coronary heart disease.
What Gloria and her doctor didn't realize at the time was that, although she was slender and fit, her family medical history showed that she was indeed at serious risk for a heart attack.
"It turned out that everyone on my mom's side had heart disease, high blood pressure and/or diabetes. Out of my mom's eight siblings, only two have survived. The rest all died between the ages of 37-65," she says.
Gloria's experience shows the importance of knowing your family history. Family history is a very important clue to the possibility that you may have inherited a tendency for heart disease. And, as I note in my book, "Beat Your Risk Factors," when you do your family medical history, keep in mind these key points:
1) Both your relatives on your father's side and your mother's side count.
2) Divide your relatives into first-degree (parents and siblings), second-degree (grandparents, aunts and uncles) and third-degree relatives (first cousins and great-grandparents). First-degree relatives generally count most.
3) Pay attention to age. Generally, the earlier a disease occurs, the more likely it is there may be an inherited component. Typically, women develop heart disease 10-15 years later than men, so their risk increases when they reach 55-60 years old. So pay attention if you have close female relatives who suffered heart attacks or were diagnosed with heart disease significantly younger than that.
Knowing your family history provides you with the opportunity to take steps to make sure that you don't die from what killed your parents.
I discuss family history in the talks I give throughout the country on Preventing Heart Disease in Women. For more information, visit Women's Health Hot Line.
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