Take a break!
November 10, 2006 1:37 pm
No, I'm not talking about a vacation. I just mean a break from - well, whatever you've been doing for the last 2 hours!
You see, many of us get stuck doing the same thing all day - repetitive motions, sitting all the time, standing in a certain position, lifting things in the same direction, and so on. No, I'm not just talking about computer users - even "active" jobs can be repetitive.
In the "natural" world, you tend to have a lot more variety. In our fast paced, "efficient" world, we try to block out interruptions and put everything close at hand. But in reality, that can make you less efficient over time.
So, I'm just checking in to repeat what you've heard many times. Take a break! Stretch, and do something different. If you're concerned about efficiency, consider building in these changes and breaks. Plan to do a variety of things, instead of just focusing on "getting that report done today" or "just painting the bedroom". Plan to do one thing for an hour, then another. Take a 30 second break to stretch. There are a lot of things you can do.
I've written before on this topic - read this post particularly for computer users. One of the best resources for keeping those joints and muscles healthy day to day is The Posture Prescription by Dr Arthur White and Kate Kelly (review). I was reminded of this topic because of this study of office workers.
Don't want to take a break? You're asking for migraine triggers, tension headache, back pain, and a mind that's not quite as sharp. But maybe you're too far gone to recognize good advice when you hear it! :)
» To reference this entry use this permalink
Men with migraine have heart attack risk
November 23, 2006 9:42 am
It's another study on the link between migraine and heart disease. But this one is especially interesting because it's a study of men. Since men are statistically less likely to have migraine than women, there are less studies out there.
This particular study was presented at the 2006 meeting of the American Heart Association in Chicago. The study indicates that men with migraine have a 24% higher risk of major cardiovascular problems - in fact, a 42% higher risk of heart attack. The author of the study was Dr. Tobias Kurth, an assistant professor of medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School (Boston, USA).
We still are learning about why this link exists. Some researchers believe it may have to do with the changes in blood vessels during an attack. But these studies continue to demonstrate that there is a link in both men and women, and that migraine is much more than a temporary discomfort. Those with migraine need to pay attention to their heart health even more than the average person. It would be worth mentioning to your doctor at your next checkup.
Read more about the men with migraine study.
» To reference this entry use this permalink
|
