According to a recent study, only eight percent of adults sleep naked. If you’re not among the 8%, here are 9 ½ reasons why you should donate your PJs and anything else you wear to bed at night to the nearest thrift store. These include: You’ll sleep better. You’ll burn more calories It’s...Continue reading
Category: Cardio
Bribery and Weight Loss: More Connected Than You’d Think
Just about anyone over the age of 10 can tell you the dangers of being overweight or obese: increased risk of developing arthritis, breathing problems (such as sleep apnea), cancer, diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol, and more. Then then there are the quality of life issues: anxiety, depression, shame, guilt, sexual problems, discrimination (including lower...Continue reading
Could Masculinity Be Killing You?
From the time we’re little, we’re taught that big boys don’t cry and told that when times get tough, we just need to “man up.” The message is so strong that even a baby could figure it out (and plenty do): boys shouldn’t cry. Put a different way, boys–and later, men–need to be tough. “Real”...Continue reading
Understanding, Spotting, and Preventing Strokes
Did you know that stroke is the fifth leading cause of death and the leading preventable case of disability in the US? Each year, about 800,000 Americans suffer a new or recurrent stroke. Furthermore, someone in the world has a stroke every 2 seconds. As you may know, World Stroke Day is Thursday, 10/29, so...
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms: Silent Killers
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms or AAA, (pronounced “triple A”), are a silent killer. They evolve slowly over many years, offering no symptoms and no pain. They begins as a small dilation in the lower portion of the aorta, the body’s largest blood vessel, usually in the area just below the kidneys. Over years, they will continue...Continue reading
The Calcium Challenge: Why Milk May Not Be the Best Source
Pop quiz: Name three nutrients that are critical to building strong bones. Calcium, right? Everybody gets that one. Any others? Some people get vitamin D, and they’re correct. But almost no one can come up with a third. Give up? In addition to calcium and vitamin D, healthy bones need magnesium, phosphorus, manganese, and vitamin...Continue reading
Why Do We Slay Ourselves?
As a final follow-up from my pulmonary embolism escapade [click here for the backstory] of August, 2012, I had a stress echocardiogram in March of 2013. Hooked up to EKG leads, I walked for ten minutes at a moderate pace and then had a sonar exam of my heart. Easy-peasy. A week later, the results...
This Is What Serious Illness Does to You
This is what serious illness does to you. Once you’ve survived a dance with Mr. D (Bonus points if you get the musical reference), your life becomes a tango between symptoms, causes, and your medical history. My story: In August of 2012, I had a major embolism. How major? Picture three or four fuzzy golf...Continue reading
New York City Marathon; The Do’s and Dont’s of Training
The New York City Marathon is rapidly approaching. With it will come many common overuse injuries in the runners I serve in Westchester County and beyond. Many runners will suffer from the same, mostly avoidable common running injuries. With 4-6 weeks left to train for the NYC marathon is when we will see the most severe forms...Continue reading
Men, Show Us Your Blue and Get Healthy
By: Al Fitzpayne, HHS Chief of Staff If you think working in Washington is tough, try coaching an 11-year-old girls’ basketball team. For the past five years now, during the winter months, I’ve had the distinct honor and pleasure to coach my daughter’s basketball team. As a coach, I have a great example to follow...Continue reading