Are Americans concerned about their health? Yes, they are. Are they concerned enough to be proactive about staying healthy? Not so much. In fact, not really.
Good health habits start young and we all know that children watch adults very closely. Parents can hardly expect their children to live a healthy lifestyle if they themselves don’t. Yet, despite this, the message of healthy living starts early doesn’t seem to be getting out.
According to a study done by the Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association (PCNA),

So in a moment of “don’t shoot the messenger”, I am sorry to have to share the news that “moderate” exercise is no longer going to cut it, if weight loss is your main goal. And by “moderate”, I’m referring to the old standby of 30 minutes a day, most days of the week.
Bummer, eh?
As if we don’t have enough on our plates (heh. Punny, huh?) Now we need to ramp up our routines in order to shed a few. This, according to a recent article on TIME.com.
Truly, it makes sense. When I first went on a crusade to lose …read more

At first, when I read in Shape magazine that 69 percent of all people don’t know all five of the classic heart attack symptoms, I was shocked! Amazed! Appalled!
That is, until I realized I didn’t know all five of them either. Doh!
But with heart disease affecting more younger people and women all the time – not to mention those you’d “expect” to be stricken – I made it my business to learn real quick what these telltale signs are. Do you know them?
1. Pain or pressure in the chest
2. Shortness of breath
3. Pulsating pain in the jaw, neck or back
4. …read more

What does love do for you, other than make you googly-eyed and smiley? Plenty.
Image details: Love spelt in silver letters served by picapp.com
As I prepare to celebrate my 10th wedding anniversary tomorrow, I was thrilled to come across a small article listing 4 fabulous “side-effects” to being in a loving relationship.
1) Lower stress hormones
2) More physical activity (of all kinds, ahem)
3) Less likely to smoke
4) Decrease in blood pressure
Wow! Seems not only does love affect your emotional heart, it’s great for your physical ticker as well.
Sounds like I have lots to celebrate! Grab your honey and celebrate being in …read more

Image details: Thinkstock Single Image Set served by picapp.com
Great news for kitty lovers: Turns out your feline friends do more than keep your toes warm at night – they help keep your heart healthy, too.
A recent study from the University of Minnesota found that owning a cat can slash your risk of dying from a heart attack by up to 40 percent. Evidently, having kitty around can help soothe away the harmful effects of stress and anxiety. Suddenly, dealing with the litter box doesn’t seem quite so vexing, now does it?
Of course, it’s best to keep exercising and eating right, …read more