Category: Fitness & Rehabilitation

It is well established that exercise and nutrition have an important role in disease prevention and management. However, there are still gaps in the literature regarding best exercise prescription practices related to decreasing cardiovascular disease risk. In order to determine specific exercise recommendations, it is necessary to understand some of the most established cardiovascular risk factors and biomarkers. Individuals with obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, current smoker status, cardiovascular familial history, poor diet, and a sedentary lifestyle are at highest risk for heart disease (Kannel & McGee, 1979). Articles focused on exercise specific to adipose tissue loss (obesity) and improvements in dyslipidemia, blood pressure, and cardiorespiratory fitness (ie. VO2max, heart rate, perceived exertion, etc.) were used to determine best practices in decreasing overall risk for heart disease.

Schedule of Postpartum exercise

Cytokines are secreted proteins that influence the survival, proliferation, differentiation and function of immune cells and other organ systems (Alexander, 2002). Cytokines can be secreted by a variety of cells including neutrophils, activated macrophages, fibroblasts, endothelial cells and damaged muscle cells (Cannon & Pierre, 1998). Indeed, the muscle itself can also release cytokines as a result of motor unit contractions. For example it has been a consistent finding that interleukin 6 (IL-6) increases by several folds in response to endurance exercise (Pedersen & Febbraio, 2008). The below table shows many different cytokine characteristics and actions.

A study done on related risk factors for weight gain during the COVID-19 quarantine reports five main predictors of weight gain: inadequate sleep, snacking after dinner, lack of dietary restraint, stress eating, and lack of physical activity.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound effect on the lives of many all over the world. The current global pandemic situation has forced many to work from home, eat majority of their meals at home, and workout from home. With minimal equipment at home, it can be challenging incorporating fun and effective exercise into your daily routine, especially if you don’t like to run. Below are some simple and effective exercises, as well as workout examples to keep your heart rate elevated. It is recommended to incorporate 150 minutes of aerobic exercise per week (or 30 minutes per day, 5x per week), in order to experience health benefits and decrease risk for many chronic conditions.

Here is a FAQ Regarding CBD and THC

Chronic pain affects millions of Americans and ranges in its origin and severity. Alternative medicine as a means for pain management has become increasingly popular in the Western world. One source of which is the Cannabis plant, which has been cultivated and used for medicinal purposes since ancient times (Shannon, Lewis, Lee, & Hughes, 2019). While the Cannabis plant contains more than 80 different chemicals, known as cannabinoids, the two most abundant are tet­rahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). The former of which is known for its psychoactive properties, whereas the latter is known for its non-psychoactive properties (Shannon et al., 2019).

Normal digestion typically takes 36 hours from ingestion to excretion. Within the first six to eight hours, food goes from the stomach to the small intestine (Mahan, & Raymond, 2017). However, that is not always the case, as sometimes there is a delay in gastric emptying (emptying of the contents in the stomach to the small intestine). Gastroparesis, which means paralysis of the stomach, is a condition characterized by damaged nerves and muscles not functioning properly or adequately (Mahan, & Raymond, 2017; Kumar, Chapman, Javed, Alam, Malik, & Azmi, 2018). The stomach either cannot or moves the food very slowly from the stomach to the small intestine, the next part of the digestive process. These complications can occur as a result of an obstruction within the stomach and/or intestines, diabetes, post-surgery, idiopathic (no known cause), or some neurological disorders (Camilleri, 2016; Haans, & Masclee, 2007; Homko, Duffy, Friedenberg, Boden, & Parkman, 2015; Kumar, Chapman, Javed, Alam, Malik, & Azmi, 2018).

Those experiencing hip fractures are typically more prone to comorbidities, postoperative complications, and protein-energy malnutrition (Bell, Bauer, Capra, & Pulle, 2014; Foss, Jensen, & Kehlet, 2007). Many individuals fail to meet the appropriate amount of energy and protein during postoperative care. As a result, muscle wasting can occur and contribute to further deterioration of nutritional status and health outcomes (Bell, Bauer, Capra, & Pulle, 2014; Foss, Jensen, & Kehlet, 2007; Mahan & Raymond, 2017).