Fitness Mantra del.icio.us pageWelcome to “FitnessMantra Weekend”, your once-a-week health news update. As always you can also stay updated with the latest in fitness news by subscribing separately to the Fitness Mantra del.icio.us feed.

You are probably well aware of the dangers of being in a state of continuous stress: it adversely affects your heart (possibly because of the consequent hypertension and also through the excessive release of hormones like cortisol). There is new evidence, however, that suggests that chronic anxiety is equally bad for the heart, at least in men:

“This is very important research because we really are focused very much on prescribing medicine for cholesterol and lowering blood pressure and treating diabetes, but we don’t look at the psychological aspect of a patient’s care,”. Doctors “need to be aggressive about not only taking care of the traditional risk factors … but also really getting into their patients’ heads.”[MSNBC]

Of course almost everyone is anxious once in a while - tax time or examinations at school are all situations that warrant a bit of adrenaline to get the job done, but the study focuses on the chronic, long-term variety that can be quite detrimental to the heart:

Those men deemed chronically anxious were 30 percent to 40 percent more likely to have had a heart attack than their more easygoing counterparts.

So take a chill pill and enjoy yourself as much as you can … and then read the week’s top health and fitness stories:

  1. Boston moves toward a ban on trans fats: Following the lead of New York City and Brookline, health regulators in Boston last night took the first step toward banning artery-clogging trans fat from French fries, doughnuts, and other food sold in restaurants and corner stores.
  2. For Children, a Head Start On the Road to Fitness: After a long day of math drills and science lessons at Sugarland Elementary School, 10-year-old Jacob Wilson likes to hit the gym.
  3. Cranberries really are miracle cure for women: cranberry juice exhibits anti-viral properties against the flu, can prevent cavities, and lessens the reoccurrence of gastric ulcers.
  4. A few extra pounds may harm kids’ hearts: Even “chunky” kids who aren’t obviously overweight have changes in their heart and blood vessel function that could increase their risk of cardiovascular disease
  5. Chewing gum weight loss warning: Too much “sugar-free” chewing gum can lead to severe weight loss and diarrhoea, doctors warn.
  6. Eating slowly may not help you shed pounds: What matters is the palatability or variety of the food, not specifically the rate at which it was consumed.
  7. ‘Don’t Go on a Diet’: Readers Offer a Slew of Suggestions for Avoiding Health Mistakes in the New Year
  8. Family Meals Curb Teen Eating Disorders: Teenage girls who eat meals with their families may develop healthier eating habits and avoid eating disorders like bulimia, according to a new study.
  9. Low vitamin D heart health risk: Having too little vitamin D has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease, a US study has found.
  10. Don’t stress: Anxiety can hurt your heart: Researchers reported Monday that chronic anxiety can significantly increase the risk of a heart attack, at least in men.
  11. School Popularity Affects Girls Weights: Girls who think they aren’t popular are at higher risk for weight gain, according to a new study.
  12. Ready to Lose a Few Pounds? They’ve Got a Plan for You.: “They’re best for those who want someone else to make the decision about what to eat,”
  13. 4 healthy habits can add 14 years to your life: People who drink moderately, exercise, quit smoking and eat five servings of fruit and vegetables each day live on average 14 years longer than people who adopt none of these behaviors
  14. Resolved to diet? Here’s advice: I get patients who take in 1,000 calories a day from liquids alone. It’s staggering.

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Have a great weekend!

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