Credit: iStock/money business images Think back to the last time you had a checkup with your health care provider. They likely weighed you, asked your height and measured your blood pressure, heart rate, temperature and breathing. The medical team probably also asked questions about your health history, current medications and if you had any pain. … Continue reading Using Physical Activity Levels as a Health Vital Sign
Exercise
How to Turn Your Fitness Resolution into a Lasting Habit
Credit: iStock/Fokusiert If getting more exercise is on your New Year’s resolution list, you’re not alone. While becoming more active is one of the most common resolutions, only about 25% of adults meet the recommended guidelines for physical activity. How can you beat the odds and make sure your resolution becomes more than just a … Continue reading How to Turn Your Fitness Resolution into a Lasting Habit
The Top 10 Most-read I Spy Physiology Posts of 2024
Credit: iStock/gustavofrazao It’s been another “ph-un” filled year of physiology on the I Spy Physiology blog! We’ve featured posts ranging from marijuana research and bone cancer in children to how many steps do we really need to take per day and if alkaline water lives up to the hype. To complement our Women’s Health Research … Continue reading The Top 10 Most-read I Spy Physiology Posts of 2024
How Many Steps a Day for Better Health? It Might Be Fewer Than You Think
Credit: iStock/Tingting Ji Most of us know that regular physical activity is great for health, reducing risks of heart disease and even lowering the risk of death. Walking is one of the easiest ways to fit in physical activity, and even just a little more walking can make a difference. For example, taking an additional … Continue reading How Many Steps a Day for Better Health? It Might Be Fewer Than You Think
How Exercise Protects You from Dementia
Credit: iStock More than 7 million people in the U.S. live with neurodegenerative disorders. These are chronic diseases of the nervous system that worsen over time. Degenerative disorders are difficult to slow or reverse when nerve cells (neurons) stop working the way they should or die. Examples include Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis and … Continue reading How Exercise Protects You from Dementia
How the Heat Affects Your Workouts and Your Body
Credit: iStock/AntonioGuillem Many sports enthusiasts around the globe have been focused on Paris as the 2024 Summer Games play out. Elite athletes in 329 medal events showcase their skill, talent and endurance with elegance, grace—and a whole lot of sweat. How do the best athletes in the world perform the amazing feats they do? Read … Continue reading How the Heat Affects Your Workouts and Your Body
How Does Eating and Exercising at the Right Time Reduce Your Risk of Chronic Disease?
Karyn Esser, PhD, presents her research at the 2024 American Physiology Summit. Credit: American Physiological Society The role of the biological clock (circadian rhythm) on human health and disease was covered in depth at the 2023 American Physiology Summit. Learning about how the body’s clock works with other organs is a topic scientists are continually … Continue reading How Does Eating and Exercising at the Right Time Reduce Your Risk of Chronic Disease?
Exercise and Healthspan Go Hand in Hand
Conference attendees listen intently at a 2024 American Physiology Summit session. “Healthspan” is a new buzzword recently added to our vocabulary. It reflects the length of time we stay healthy rather than simply being alive. While the average lifespan in the U.S. is around 79 years, the average healthspan (the age at which someone develops … Continue reading Exercise and Healthspan Go Hand in Hand
Celebrating Science at the American Physiology Summit
American Physiology Summit attendees at the 2023 meeting. The American Physiological Society’s (APS) inaugural meeting, the American Physiology Summit, was a resounding success last year! With more than 3,100 attendees, 1,800 submitted abstracts, scores of scientific sessions and esteemed lecturers, the physiology community is gearing up for even more in 2024. For members, meeting attendees, … Continue reading Celebrating Science at the American Physiology Summit
Are You at Risk for Peripheral Arterial Disease?
Credit: iStock Peripheral arterial disease, also called peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a disease that affects the blood vessels in the limbs. Roughly 6.5 million people age 40 and older in the U.S. have PAD. This number is expected to increase due to the number of people with diabetes, which is a major risk factor … Continue reading Are You at Risk for Peripheral Arterial Disease?