Stay Healthy

As the U.S. population ages, the number of Americans with major eye diseases is increasing, and vision loss is becoming a major public health problem, according to the National Eye Institute.

By the year 2020, the number of people who are blind or have low vision is projected to increase substantially, according to the Archives of Ophthalmology. Blindness or low vision affects 3.3 million Americans age 40 and over, or one in 28, according to study authors. This figure is projected to reach 5.5 million by the year 2020.

Running for even five to 10 minutes a day, once or twice a week, or at slow speeds was associated with substantial mortality benefits over 15 years, a prospective study showed.

Runners overall had 30% and 45% lower adjusted risks of all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality, respectively, over that period and had three years longer life expectancy compared with non-runners, Duckchul Lee, PhD of Iowa State University found.

According to the History Channel, “historians speculate that April Fools’ Day dates back to 1582, when France switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar.” Apparently, “people who were slow to get the news or failed to recognize that the start of the new year had moved to Jan. 1 and continued to celebrate it during the last week of March through April 1 became the butt of jokes and hoaxes.” In honor of all those poor souls who endured “having paper fish placed on their backs and being referred to as ‘poisson d’avril’ (April fish),” let’s debunk some of the most common fitness myths. To help us with this timely task, fitness guru Laura Fromdahl of TriStrong Coaching shares her wellness wisdom.

One person dies of cardiovascular disease every 39 seconds. That’s 2,200 people each day in the U.S.  

To raise funds and awareness to fight cardiovascular disease, the Charleston & Coastal South Carolina Chapter of the American Heart Association will hold the Palmetto Heart Walk on April 29 at Shelter Cove Community Park on Hilton Head Island. The event has a 1-mile loop and a 5K option. More than 800 attendees are expected this year, said Jennifer Waites, a spokesperson for the American Heart Association.  

Taking an active approach to achieving your wellness goals doesn’t need to be time-consuming or financially draining. As a personal holistic health coach and an instructor of yoga, barre and Pilates, I know my clients can attest to the effectiveness of an at-home fitness program. As a triathlete and full-time working mother of three, I can honestly say I wouldn’t be as competitive on the course or maintain some level of sanity without my at-home routine. Here are five fat- and calorie-burning, endurance-building tips to training in the comfort of your own living room.

“Traditional” medicine practiced for thousands of years by the Chinese and other ancient peoples like the Greeks, Indians and Romans was rooted in holistic health by treating the whole body through emotional and spiritual well-being.

Their practice, without benefit of scientific evidence or established science, of course, is considered today’s “alternative” medicine because it runs counter to mainstream orthodox medicine. Few Western practitioners in the modern medical profession integrate holistic principles in their practice.

Like any good “will-they-or-won’t-they” romance novel, there are conflicting theories as to the origin of St. Valentine and how Valentine’s Day became the second most popular card-sending holiday after Christmas. One legend tells of an imprisoned man, Valentine, who sent the first “valentine” greeting himself after falling in love with a young girl — possibly his jailor’s daughter — who visited him during his confinement. According to the History Channel: “Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter signed ‘From your Valentine,’ an expression that is still in use today.”

Years of gender-based cardiovascular research have found plenty of differences in men and women’s health. One out of two women will be diagnosed with heart disease in her lifetime. It’s the number one killer of women.

Fifty percent of the time, the first symptom of heart disease in women is sudden cardiac death.

When Your Heart Breaks … (Literally).

“You can die of a broken heart — it's scientific fact — and my heart has been breaking since that very first day we met. I can feel it now, aching deep behind my rib cage the way it does every time we're together, beating a desperate rhythm: Love me. Love me. Love me.” ? Abby McDonald, Getting Over Garrett Delaney

When you think of a broken heart, you may picture a cartoon drawing with a jagged line through it. But a real-life broken heart can actually lead to cardiac consequences. There are established ties between depression, mental health and heart disease. Read on for more information about how an extremely stressful event can have an impact on your heart.