Amsterdam: According to a new study, Nordic walking was found to boost functional capacity, or the ability to do everyday tasks, in individuals with coronary heart disease more than normal high-intensity interval training and moderate-to-vigorous intensity continuous training.The findings of the research were published in the journal 'Canadian Journal of Cardiology'.Cardiovascular rehabilitation and exercise training programs following major cardiovascular events are associated with considerable improvements in functional capacity and cardiorespiratory fitness, as well as mental health. However, some individuals do not enjoy monotonous forms of exercise, such as walking and stationary cycling, and therefore may stop exercising once their cardiovascular rehabilitation program is completed.Researchers explored more diverse exercise options that might appeal to more people to determine whether they could get more individuals to continue to exercise and what benefits might be achieved.Growing evidence suggests that non-conventional exercise interventions, such as high-intensity interval training and Nordic walking are more effective than traditional exercise approaches in improving functional capacity measured by a six-minute walk test - an important predictor of cardiovascular events in patients with coronary artery disease. Nordic walking is an enhanced form of walking exercise that uses specifically designed poles to further engage both the upper and lower body muscles."Patients with coronary artery disease frequently demonstrate diminished functional capacity, low quality of life and increased the risk of subsequent cardiovascular events and mortality," explained lead investigator Jennifer L. Reed, PhD, Exercise Physiology and Cardiovascular Health Lab, Division of Cardiac Prevention and Rehabilitation, University of Ottawa Heart Institute; Faculty of Medicine; and School of Human Kinetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada. Investigators compared the prolonged effects of 12-week rehabilitation with 1) high-intensity interval training; 2) moderate-to-vigorous intensity continuous training; and 3) Nordic walking, on functional capacity, quality of life and depression symptoms in patients with coronary artery disease. One hundred and thirty patients were randomized to a 12-week training in one of these three groups followed by a 14-week observation phase.While all exercise programs improved depression symptoms and quality of life, the improvement in functional capacity was greatest after Nordic walking (+19 per cent) when compared to high-intensity interval training (+13 per cent) and moderate-to-vigorous intensity continuous training (+12 per cent)."This is a key finding because lower functional capacity predicts a higher risk of future cardiovascular events in people with coronary artery disease," noted Dr Reed. "Nordic walking engages core, upper and lower body muscles while reducing loading stress at the knee, which may have resulted in greater improvements in functional capacity.""No previous study has directly compared the long-term effects of high-intensity interval training, moderate-to-vigorous intensity continuous training and Nordic walking," commented Tasuku Terada, PhD, Exercise Physiology and Cardiovascular Health Lab, Division of Cardiac Prevention and Rehabilitation, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada."This study is novel in that it simultaneously compared the sustained effects (i.e., 14 weeks after the completion of cardiovascular rehabilitation) of different exercise programs that can readily be incorporated into daily exercise. When prescribing exercise for patients with coronary artery disease, patients' preferences should be considered. Our findings can impact patient care by providing alternative exercise options based on their interests and needs," he concluded. In an accompanying editorial, Carl J. Lavie, MD, Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, John Ochsner Heart and Vascular Institute, Ochsner Clinical School, the University of Queensland School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA, and colleagues noted that the addition of Nordic walking to a cardiovascular rehabilitation program could provide an ideal progression from standard moderate-intensity continuous training or traditional walking, especially for deconditioned patients who may not tolerate the high-intensity exercise, or for patients in whom high-intensity interval training may be contraindicated."The addition of Nordic poles to moderate to vigorous-intensity walking is a simple, accessible option to enhance improvements in walking capacity, increase energy expenditure, engage upper body musculature, and improve other functional parameters such as posture, gait, and balance," commented Dr Lavie."Providing a variety of exercise options enhances patient enjoyment and progression, which is important for adherence and maintenance. Exercise modalities should be prescribed with consideration of patient goals, preferences, and capabilities," he advised.&nbsp;—ANI

According to a new study, Nordic walking was found to boost functional capacity, or the ability to do everyday tasks, in individuals with coronary heart disease more than normal high-intensity interval training and moderate-to-vigorous intensity continuous training.

Research Suggests Nordic Walking Improves Functional Capacity In Heart Disease Patients

New Delhi: All the body functions slow down with age. One can follow the following five aspects to improve the metabolism:
<h2>Physical activity: </h2>
Include yoga, weight training, being active throughout the day, any form of sport, walking, jogging or swimming four-five days a week.

Eating at least 30 to 40 grams of dietary fibre, fermented-rich food (pro, prebiotics) every day.

Drinking two to three litres of water, and herbal tea (including herbs, and spices).

Ensure to have seven to nine hours of uninterrupted sleep every night.

Expose oneself to the five elements of nature (sunlight, earth, water, space, air)


What are a few lifestyle changes a woman can implement to manage weight?

Being active in the form of any physical activity, can be a simple step too.

Intermittent fasting or fasting once a week with more rest periods

Eating a fibre-rich diet.

Practice mindful eating.

Set a regular sleep schedule, if the sleep cycle is varied, especially in women, it affects the hormonal regulation activity in the body which might increase body weight.

Drinking water. Try to do mouthful drinking, where you leave the water in your mouth for about 30 seconds.

Get into the habit of prioritising themselves.


As bone density in women starts to diminish after a certain age, how to cope with it and avoid the consequences

The main cause of reduced bone density is the lack of ca+2 and vitamin d in the body. As most women don't expose their bodies to direct sunlight the vitamin d in the body is reduced which in turn results in the loss of ca+2 too. The following will help.

Sun exposure for vitamin d with the intake of good fat (avocado, nuts, coconut butter, ghee), vitamin- c, vitamin k, and magnesium-rich food (A diet consisting of more vegetables, and fruits for its vitamins and minerals).

Adding calcium-rich food throughout the day (1000 to 1200 mg per day).

Physical activity which includes stretching and strengthening


As there is a rise in cardiac issues in women, what are a few recommendations to maintain a healthy heart according to naturopathy?

Enough sleep, in quality and quantity

Follow a regular pattern of sleep (7-8 hours of uninterrupted sleep) daily.

There should be a gap of a minimum of two hours between dinner and bedtime.

Avoid blue and bright light exposure instead prefer low-lying dim lights of yellow, red and orange colours.

Avoid the usage of electronic gadgets, strong beverages, heavy physical activity and late-night binging before sleeping.

Don't engage in stressful thoughts or plan for the next day while going to sleep.

Try to recollect the happiest moment of the day

Have a warm water bath or a hot foot bath before bedtime.

"Early bird and late night owls"- ensure that 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. is the sleeping window.

Once you get up from the bed expose yourself to natural light.

A nap can be taken in the afternoon post-, for 15-20 minutes.

Manage weight and stress in the form of physical activity and healthy eating

Physical activity:

Being constantly active is more important than being intensively active.

Do what you love doing - select activities based on your personal needs and preferences, and don't follow the crowd.

Try to include different varieties of exercises like walking, swimming, climbing, cycling, sports activity etc.

<h2>Healthy eating:</h2>

Eat fresh rainbow-coloured raw food

Include seasonable fruits and vegetables

Include 50 per cent raw food daily

Once a week - Go completely raw, with thick smoothies, gazpacho, soups (thick and thin), juices, intermittent fasting and fasting.

<h2>What to avoid:</h2>

Processed - When ingredients such as oil, sugar, and salt, are added to food and packed (Eg. simple bread, cheese, tofu, canned tuna)

Refined - Food that has been processed in some way or changed (white bread, rice, noodles, cakes, flavoured yoghurt)

Grilled - A form of cooking that involves dry heat applied to the surface of food commonly above, below or at the sides.

Fried - Food cooked in a pan that contains hot fat or oil.

Food additives - Substances added to food to preserve or enhance taste, appearance or other sensory qualities.

Food preservatives - Prevent the growth of micro-organisms such as yeast, and slows the oxidation of fat that cause rancidity (packed refrigerated, frozen, canned, dried food).

Junk food - High in calories from sugar, fat, and sodium with little or no dietary fibre, protein, vitamins, and minerals (cakes, biscuits, hot chips, burgers, pizzas, sugary drinks, sweetened caffeine drinks. alcoholic drinks, gluten-rich food etc.).

Refined oils - soya bean oil, corn oil, cottonseed oil, sunflower oil, peanut oil, palm oil, rice bran oil

Salty, sugary food, dairy food products.

Intake of saturated fat and animal protein

(Dr Cijith Sreedhar, Chief Medical Officer, Prakrithi Shakti, Naturopathy). IANS

All the body functions slow down with age. How to boost metabolism in women after 40.

How to boost metabolism in women after 40

Rudraprayag: A commercial helicopter, carrying 5 pilgrims from Kedarnath Dham to Guptkashi, made an emergency landing on the old walking route of Kedarnath Dham, an official said. As per the Rudraprayag District Administration, the helicopter took off in the bad weather. However, all the passengers are safe, the official added. —ANI

A commercial helicopter, carrying 5 pilgrims from Kedarnath Dham to Guptkashi, made an emergency landing on the old walking route of Kedarnath Dham

Helicopter Carrying Pilgrims Makes Emergency Landing In Kedarnath Dham

Los Angeles: A study has found how different the experience of walking home at night is for men"&gt;women and men. The study, conducted by Brigham Young University public health professor Robbie Chaney, gives unambiguous visual proof of the frequent environmental scanning that men"&gt;women perform when walking in the dark, a safety concern that the study demonstrates is specific to their experience. Chaney and co-authors Alyssa Baer and Ida Tovar showed participants photos of campus areas at four Utah universities--Utah Valley University, Westminster, Brigham Young University, and the University of Utah--and asked them to click on areas that piqued their interest. Women-focused much more on potential safety threats - the images' perimeter -- whereas men looked directly at focal points or their planned goal. "The resulting heat maps represent perhaps what people are thinking or feeling or doing as they are moving through these spaces," Chaney said. "Before we started the study, we expected to see some differences, but we didn't expect to see them so contrasting. It's really visually striking." Nearly 600 individuals took part in the study, published recently in the journal Violence and Gender, with 56 per cent of participants being female and 44 per cent being male. Each participant looked at 16 images and was told to imagine themselves walking through those areas. They used a Qualtrics heat map tool to click on the areas of the image that stood out the most to them. While men tended to focus on the path or a fixed object (like a light, the walking path or a garbage can), the men"&gt;women's visual pattern represented a scanning of the perimeter (bushes, dark areas next to a path). Chaney, along with Baer and Tovar -- both BYU undergrads at the time of the study's inception -- say the findings provide some insight into what it is like to walk home as a woman, which could be multiplied through years or a lifetime of experiences. "This project has been a fantastic conversation starter to bring awareness to lived experiences, particularly of men"&gt;women in this case," said Baer, who recently finished graduate school at George Washington University and now works in Washington, D.C. "My hope is that in having concrete data we are able to start conversations that lead to meaningful action." The authors said the data suggests that because the environment is perceived and experienced differently by men"&gt;women and men, decision-makers in building campus and community environments should consider the varied experiences, perceptions and safety of both. "Why can't we live in a world where men"&gt;women don't have to think about these things? It's heartbreaking to hear of things men"&gt;women close to me have dealt with," Chaney said. "It would be nice to work towards a world where there is no difference between the heat maps in these sets of images. That is the hope of the public health discipline." —ANI

A study has found how different the experience of walking home at night is for men">women and men

The Hawk

Tag : Walking

Research Suggests Nordic Walking Improves Functional Capacity In Heart Disease Patients

demo

The Hawk

Tag : Walking

Research Suggests Nordic Walking Improves Functional Capacity In Heart Disease Patients

demo

More about Walking

How to boost metabolism in women after 40

Helicopter Carrying Pilgrims Makes Emergency Landing ...

Walking Home At Night Is Not Same For Women: Study