The trend among women was more alarming, with hypertension rates in the 1990s reversing and beginning to increase, researchers said. Between the early 1990s and early 2000s, the prevalence of uncontrolled hypertension in adult women increased from 17 percent to more than 22 percent. At the same time, the rate of hypertension in men decreased from 19 percent to 17 percent.

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Women- take care of yourself!

He is from Baltimore just as I am and I am loving it.  He is doing the sport good and making us here very proud.

I just keep smiling- and we are all talking about it and it is just so cool to have so many different people relating to each other because of one swimmer. Seriously- the old, young, men, women, kids, policemen, nurses and doctors- all feeling good today because a fellow Baltimore boy won some gold. Thanks Michael Phelps!

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Hearty happiness thanks to the Worlds best swimmer- Phelps!

Using information from the Framingham Heart Study, which started in 1948, researchers looked at questionnaires women in the study had filled out over 20 years about how often they took vacations. Those women who took a vacation once every six years or less were almost eight times more likely to develop coronary heart disease or have a heart attack than those who took at least two vacations a year, said Elaine Eaker, a co-author of the study and president of Eaker Epidemiology Enterprises, a private research company.

It is true what they say… My neurologist last week said that he thinks this will help my physical symptoms better then the medications that I am currently taking. He firmly believe that becoming relaxed and taking as he says ‘time to smell the roses’ does wonders for the body. We shall see but I am looking forward to it for sure!

via Herald Tribune 

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Vacations are heart healthy!

What’s the difference between a general practitioner and a specialist?
One treats what you have, the other thinks you have what he treats.

I actually chuckled out loud!

via Professional Jokes 

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Specialized medicine- isn’t it grand?

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Snack on this- hearty treats

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Do your emotions relate to your heart health?

Included in a heart healthy diet, macadamia nuts did reduce total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein and triglyceride levels.

Up to this point, macadamia nuts as well as Brazil nuts and cashews were not included in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s list of nuts with qualified health claims due to their saturated fat level of 6g per 50 grams of nuts and the cut off being 4 g per 50 grams of nuts.

Now go eat some nuts!

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Eat more macadamia nuts for hearty health

E is for energetic

A is for amazing

R is for rarely less than perfect

T is for terrific and truly mind blowing

And Y is for you,

So here’s to A Hearty Life from here to age 102…

Wow, I really stink at this poetry stuff, but you get the idea! Have a wonderful weekend y’all.

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An Absolutely Horrible Poem From The Bottom Of My Heart

I Don’t Have Time to Exercise!

Yep, the old standby. You’re gonna have to do better than that!

Hi, I’m Mark Sisson. Being an official “fitness guy” (more on that in a bit), Kendra thought it would be a good idea for me to stop by and share my heart-healthy exercise tips. We agreed that simply sharing how-to tips would not be sufficient – because everyone knows they need to work out. The problem is that everything gets in the way: the three kids, the dog, the errands, the job, the cable guy (who’ll be there sometime between 8AM and 6PM). I’ll be popping in periodically to address the notorious issue many face: how to exercise if you are…[insert any possible excuse here].
This week I want to address the “I’m too busy to work out!” excuse. I’m not going to try to tell you that you really aren’t too busy. No doubt you’ve heard the standard line of reasoning in response to this: you must find the time, because you can’t afford not to exercise. While that’s true, what smart adult doesn’t already know this? Reminding us that exercise is vital is like telling a smoker that cigarettes are unhealthy. And we’ve seen how well that works.

Here are my two unavoidably effective tips for even the busiest folks:

- Realize that a workout does not have to be done in a lump.

8 minutes here, 5 minutes there – this all counts. Ideally, for the best cardio boost, you’ll get your heart rate maxed for 15 minutes at a stretch at least 4 times a week. But small bursts of exercise, if done properly, can be very beneficial for your muscles and bones in the aggregate, and even your heart (though it is admittedly more challenging to do cardio in tiny bursts). Properly = full intensity, correct form, effective breathing.
When it comes to many health issues, though I am prone to being an idealist – drill sergeant, according to my teenagers – in the case of exercise, something really is better than nothing. Anything is better than nothing. When you are on the phone, in line, sitting in traffic, or waiting to pick up the rugrats, do something, even if it’s just stomach contractions.
The key is to keep as many exercise gadgets and aids available as possible. Keep 2 pound weights in the car. Leave fitness bands on doorknobs. Hang a jump rope by the stairs. Keep a balance board by the phone. It doesn’t really matter what gadgets you favor. Balance, strengthening, isometric, aerobic, resistance – it’s all good. Invest 100 bucks in some fun, simple fitness devices like hand weights and squeezy balls, and knock yourself out whenever you get a chance. You won’t be winning any marathons, but then, that’s what chasing the dog is for.

- Are you suffering from activityitis? Most parents are.

Play dates, sports practices, band rehearsal – there’s always something to chauffeur the kids to. Rather than try to add one more thing (the gym) to your over-flowering plate, work with the system. Multitask when you can. I drop my son off for his music lesson and go for a 45-minute walk in the maestro’s neighborhood while Kyle’s riffing on the sax.

Make it a rule in your family that every person’s activity roster must include one fitness activity – including you. The best, most practical way to do this is to get everyone together in a family fitness hobby. This will typically mean sacrificing an individual activity, but it’s worth it. It’ll help to establish your parental authority in a loving way, promote family closeness, and foster better fitness habits. Each child should be allowed one sport, one personal hobby, and several weekly play dates or social opportunities, but beyond that, a weekly family fitness event is a must. This might mean your child has to choose one hobby or activity per semester or season, rather than two or three at a time. It might mean you give up one T.V. show. But family bike rides, pool time or a weekend hike are meaningful and healthy fitness activities that will pay endless dividends beyond fitness. Try it out.

About me, in a nutshell: I’m a retired professional triathlete (I was pretty good). But injuries precluded further competition, so I got into consulting (high-level anti-doping legislation and fitness) and health research (supplementation and nutrition). I’m also a proud husband to my beautiful wife and dad to two great kids.

I’ve had a lot of interesting, and varied, experience in the health and fitness sphere, and this year, I decided to share my insights and expertise by joining the blogosphere. What a kick! I hope you’ll visit me at my health blog, Mark’s Daily Apple, and tell me what you think.

Look forward to more advice and tips from Mark next week. Did you think the info was helpful? Would you like to see more guest blogger’s? Let me know, I am always welcome to ideas and comments, especially the nice ones. Haha.

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Mark Has Something To Say About Your Hearty Exercise Excuses… Helpful Tips To Stay Heart Healthy!