Entrepreneurs Are Healthier, Report Finds

People who go into business for themselves may be healthier than other workers, according to a new report from Gallup.

The report shows that entrepreneurs are less likely to have chronic diseases like diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity and high blood pressure compared to other workers.

Entrepreneurs are also more likely to lead healthy lifestyles than other workers, such as eating produce at least four times a week and exercising on a regular basis, according to the findings.

What Makes a Kid Unique? by Orange Leaders

by Bre Hallberg 

Did you know that the fittest kids in America are graduating from Naperville high schools? According to the book Spark by John J. Ratey and Eric Hagerman, this is not a random result, but an intentional health fitness model that requires students to exercise every morning within their target heart rate.

And not only are they the fittest kids, but upon graduating high school these kids are given both a diploma and a 14-page document that explains their physical goals, their accomplishments and what they need to do in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle as an adult.

'Drop Dead Healthy': Is the Perfect Healthy Lifestyle Possible?

By JOHN BERMAN and MARY MARSH | Good Morning America

There are thousands of diet and exercise studies for how to achieve and maintain a healthy lifestyle: Don't eat that, drink more of this, run hard for this length of time then rest, but wait, maybe try a walk-run combo, or extreme yoga, or perhaps meditation. The tips constantly change when new studies are published.

For his most ambitious project, author A.J. Jacobs followed the latest medical advice about getting healthy -- all of it -- and found out what really works.

"I was in bad shape," Jacobs said. "I had a huge stomach. I looked like a snake that swallowed a goat. It was sort of the skinny fat, and you know, my diet was terrible. I ate sugar, salt, fat. Those were my three food groups, so I really wanted to -- I needed to do a big revamp."

Following the success of his book, "The Year of Living Biblically," in which he tried to follow every rule in the Bible for a year, Jacobs, 44, spent two years trying out every diet plan, every workout routine, every self-improvement trick and technique out there. He documented his journey in his new book, "Drop Dead Healthy: One Man's Quest for Bodily Perfection," which he wrote while walking on a treadmill, by the way -- a chapter every 12 miles or so.

"More and more research shows how horrible sitting is for you," he said. "It's really bad. It's like a Paula Deen bacon doughnut. It's just so ... if you are sitting for more than six hours a day, that'll increase your risk for heart disease by 60 percent."

Jacobs is now a walking encyclopedia of health insight, from applying sunscreen daily, to having certain plants nearby to filter the air -- even proper water bottle care.

"Holding a cold bottle is actually good for your workout," he said. "It keeps your core temperature lower, and you can increase your endurance."

It could get a bit annoying, his wife, Julie, admitted.

"There were certain things that he would like to look over my shoulder when I was eating -- white bread and say, 'enjoy your empty calories,'" she said. "I'm having my everything bagel, please let me be."

So what did work? Over the course of two years, Jacobs developed definite opinions about how to maintain a healthier lifestyle. He said people need to exercise more, sit less, meditate, pet dogs -- because studies have found it lowers blood pressure -- and cook their own meals instead of eating prepared food.

Jacobs now has a healthier diet, mostly vegetables, fish and eggs. The dietary revelation came not with what he eats, but how he eats it.

"I chew as many times as possible, because you'll eat less and we eat way too much as a nation," Jacobs said. "There's actually a very passionate movement on the Internet called 'Chewdaism,' and they believe you should be chewing as many as 50 times a bite."

And then there were those health regimens that Jacobs said didn't work for him, such as colonics and juice fasts.

"I was not a fan of either one, and luckily the science is not there," he said. "There's really very little science that colonics are good for you. You don't really need them. The body cleans out by itself."

But the calorie restriction diet is what Jacobs called "one of the worst experiences of my project."

"This is the group that believes that if you eat very, very little, like if you are on the verge of starvation, then you're going to live 140 years," Jacobs said. "The obvious joke is why would you want to live 140 years if you're only eating, you know, five flax seeds a day."

His favorite workout: boulder tossing, log carrying and sprinting, part of the so-called "caveman workout."

"The caveman didn't do a lot of leisurely jogging," he said. "They did a lot of sprinting, running away from tigers."

At the end of two years, Jacobs said he managed to lose 17 pounds. His body fat dropped from 17 to 7 percent and he said he is now bursting with energy and feels great. He added that he has backed off doing some of the dozens and dozens of daily healthy rituals -- for example, he no longer does the colonics or juice diets anymore, and he doesn't do the caveman workout regularly -- because, Jacobs said, there just aren't enough hours in the day to be that healthy.

"I'm a bit of an 'obsessional' person, so I guess I might go too far," Jacobs said. "[But] being too obsessed with health is not very healthy."

Jacobs also said that the most detrimental part of the pursuit of being healthy is that he had to give up seeing his friends and his family because there wasn't enough time in the day for both.

"I had very little time to see my friends because I was being too healthy, and that turned out to be unhealthy ... Social interactions are such a crucial part of our health you know they really contribute to your longevity," he said.

A.J. Jacobs shares some of his tips for being healthy. Here's what he says:

Chew! There's a movement I discovered on the Internet called 'chewdaism' where people believe you should chew each mouthful of food 50 to 70 times. This is a bit much if you have a life. Twenty or thirty times works pretty well. And basically it slows you down to give those satiety signals enough time to reach your brain so that you realize you're full before you've overeaten. It really helped me eat less.

Self-tracking -- such as using a pedometer or keeping a food diary -- makes all the difference. Just something as simple as a pedometer can make you walk one mile more per day on average, because it becomes a game. Even just writing down what you eat changes your behavior.

Don't be sedentary. Sitting is so bad for you. I like walking better, which surprises me. I have more energy. So I run errands, literally. I run to the store for toothpaste and run home. I squat down to talk to my kids, which means I do 50 to 70 squats a day.

Stress truly affects your help. I thought diet and exercise would solve everything. But keeping stress down is important. You do that by making time for friends and family, making sure to laugh. And you know what is a big stress-inducer? Noise. That's why I got some noise-cancelling headphones (which were a stress-inducing three $300.)

Respect your future self. An app online aged a picture of me, showing me what I'd look like at 70. I keep the picture on a desk and look at it to remind myself to make things better for me in the future.

http://gma.yahoo.com/drop-dead-healthy-perfect-healthy-lifestyle-possible-224109928--abc-news-health.html

Is it Time for a Heart Health Screen?

Source: Contributed by the National Heart Centre Singapore (NHCS), this article was first published in Asiaone as part of a series on heart health. 

In Singapore, cardiovascular disease - a class of diseases affecting the heart and blood vessels - is the leading cause of death and morbidity. Coronary heart disease - a subset of cardiovascular disease - is the number two killer. It is the failure of the coronary arteries or vessels supplying oxygen to the heart and surrounding tissue. Coronary heart disease (also known as coronary artery disease) is expected to afflict more people at a younger age as we become more sedentary and develop unhealthy eating habits. Coronary heart disease is known to develop over a long time and can go undetected in the early stages as there may be no symptoms. For some patients, the onset of a major heart attack with its attendant complications is the first and only symptom of coronary artery disease. This can be avoided if more patients, especially those with known risk factors, keep track of their heart health. What is heart health assessment? Heart health assessment plays an important part in the early diagnosis and treatment of heart disease. This is especially important for people who do not seem ill. "This is because cardiovascular risk factors could be detected, allowing for earlier therapy," explains Dr Paul Chiam, Consultant Cardiologist at the National Heart Centre Singapore. "Early heart problems (if any) could also be picked up. Treatment - including lifestyle modification - can help to prevent or delay complications". A basic assessment is relatively pain-free, except for routine blood taking. The assessment usually begins with a medical history review and a detailed physical examination. It also includes tests such as the ECG (electrocardiogram), chest x-ray, and fasting lipid and glucose profiles to evaluate basic cardiac status and risk profile. The results will help to determine if the risk factors for heart disease - such as high blood pressure, diabetes or elevated cholesterol levels - are present. Besides cardiovascular risk factors, early heart conditions such as underlying heart artery blockages can be picked up. Early intervention can prevent the condition from becoming worse. Who can do the screening? A family physician or GP can provide most of the basic screening. He or she may refer patients to a cardiologist for further tests, such as an exercise stress test, based on clinical findings from the basic screening. Who should have heart health screening? The recommended age to start assessing heart health for most people is around 40-45 years. For people with strong family history of heart disease, they should perhaps start earlier, at around 35 years old. As for the frequency of the check-ups, Dr Chiam says, "Depending on the patient's clinical history and the risk profile, the doctor may recommend that a checkup be done every one to five years." What are the tests for heart disease? Blood testsThis analyses cholesterol levels, kidney and liver function and diabetes mellitus. It can also confirm if you are having a heart attack if you are experiencing chest pain Electrocardiogram (ECG) Identifies abnormal heart rhythm and evaluates if symptoms of chest discomfort are due to heart disease. The patient will be asked to lie on a bed and electrodes will be placed on his chest, arms and legs. These electrodes help to detect the electrical activity of the heart. Patient can breathe normally during the procedure, but should avoid moving or talking to prevent distortion of test results. This test takes about 5 to 10 minutes. Chest x-ray Diagnoses abnormalities in cardiovascular and pulmonary systems - heart, lungs and blood vessels. Exercise stress testThis assesses the response of the heart to increased workload and demand for blood supply during exercise or exertion. Electrodes are placed on the patient's chest for ECG monitoring before the test. The patient's ECG and blood pressure are taken at rest. The patient is then asked to walk on the treadmill machine. The speed and gradient of the slope will increase every 3 minutes to stress the heart gradually. During the test, the patient's blood pressure, heart rate, ECG and general condition are monitored closely. The patients should inform the doctor to stop the test at any time if they are feeling tired, unwell or unable to continue. The procedure takes up to 1 hour, inclusive of preparation time. Calcium score on CT scan By assessing the amount of calcification in the coronary arteries, this test detects coronary artery disease at an early stage when there are no symptoms and helps to determine its severity. The technologist begins by positioning the patient on the computed tomography (CT) examination table, usually flat on the back. Straps and pillows may be used to help the patient maintain the correct position and to hold still during the scan. Electrodes for ECG will be attached to the chest to monitor heart beats. This makes it possible to record CT scans when the heart is not actively contracting. Patients are asked to hold their breath for a period of 10 to 15 seconds while images are recorded. You may also feel a little warm upon injection of the contrast, which should subside after a short while. When the examination is completed, you will be asked to wait until the technologist verifies that the images are of high enough quality for accurate interpretation. Sign up for our free e-newsletter to stay up-to-date with the latest health tips ! http://www.healthxchange.com.sg/healthyliving/SpecialFocus/Pages/Is-It-Time-For-A-Heart-Health-Screen.aspx

8 WAYS YOU CAN FIGHT BREAST CANCER

Posted by Kristin Granero

The National Cancer Institute projects more than 230,000 new cases of breast cancer in women this year alone! While we’re still searching for a cure, there are many opportunities to raise awareness and join the fight during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

1. Assess your risk. Breast cancer research suggests about five to 10 percent of cases are hereditary, passed from mother to child. Make an effort to learn your family health history, and talk to your doctor about your personal risk.

2. Get handsy with your breasts. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, nearly 70 percent of all breast cancers are discovered through self-exams. Get a head start on early cancer detection with this step-by-step self-examination guide.

3. Schedule a screening. Even if you don’t notice any changes in your breasts, such as new lumps, change in size or shape, and/or irregularity of the nipple area (in which case, you should pay a trip to the doctor right away), the Susan G. Komen Foundation recommends having a clinical breast exam at least every three years starting at age 20 (switching to every year at age 40).

4. Start maintaining a healthy lifestyle. While doctors can’t pinpoint one specific breast cancer trigger, they have come up with lists of possible “lifestyle-based” precursors, such as poor diet and exercise habits. For a list of cancer-fighting foods, click here.

5. Join the fight. Think power in numbers! Rally up a group of people to participate in a charity walk or run. For a list of events in your area, look to organizations like Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, and the Avon Foundation for Women: Breast Cancer Crusade.

6. Make the cut. Eight inches and six ponytails. That’s what it takes to make a wig. So with a snip here and a snip there, your shorter ‘do will have a ongoing effect lasting longer than the six weeks before your next trim. It might just be the boost a woman needs as she fights for her life. For more information, check out Pantene Beautiful Lengths, which specializes in having hair made into wigs for women in need.

7. Host a fundraising event. Thanks to social media platforms, raising money for a cause is easier than ever before. Next time you’re on Facebook, add the Pink Ribbon application, which raises money for mammograms. Or bookmark The Breast Cancer Site on your browser – one simple click each day provides a free mammogram to a woman in need. If you’re feeling more creative and more proactive, look into hosting a bake sale or happy hour.

8. Shop for the cure. Perhaps the easiest way to contribute to breast cancer research costs is to think pink while shopping for groceries, clothing, beauty products and more this month. For information on some of the many brands hosting Breast Cancer Awareness campaigns, click here.

How will you fight back this month?

http://life2pointoh.com/2011/10/breast-cancer-activism/