High blood pressure doesn’t have to be your battle alone. With the updated definition—130/80 mmHg or more—it’s a reality for half of American adults. But don’t let that number intimidate you. Blood pressure naturally swings throughout the day, but a constant high can spell trouble, leading to heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure. Sure, medications are a go-to for many, but you’ve got power too! Simple lifestyle tweaks can tame those numbers, or even stop hypertension before it starts. Trim Down, Starting with Your Waistline Your waistline isn’t just about fitting into jeans—it’s a blood pressure barometer. Guys, if you’re over 40 inches and ladies, over 35 inches, you’re in the hypertension zone. Need a nudge to shed pounds? Remember, weight loss is your best bet to dodge high blood pressure and cut down on meds. Get Moving Shedding weight…
Is It Better To Go on Multiple Short Walks or One Long One? Two Cardiologists Weigh In
Whether you prefer the “hot girl” variety, a morning stroll for your mental health, strutting on a treadmill, or powering through a few minutes on your lunch break, by now you are probably well aware of the many benefits of walking: It’s good for your heart and lungs, brain, mood, and longevity, among other things. But although it’s very clear why you should walk, there’s still a big question regarding the best way to go about it: Are short or long walks better for you? For example, how does getting up from your desk every hour to take a quick stroll around the block compare to carving out one chunk of time at the beginning or end of your day to walk a few miles? In general, all walking is good for you, so there’s really no right or wrong answer.…
‘I’m a 68-Year-Old Trainer, and Have Stronger Arms Today Than I Did in My 30s Thanks to These 3 Moves’
The inspo of Michelle Obama’s swole arms has stuck around long past the Obama presidency, and for good reason. A strong upper body is linked to longevity, and assists with essential functions as we age like maintaining balance. Not to mention that toned shoulders, biceps, and triceps look dang impressive on anyone. Liz Hilliard, a 68-year-old trainer and the owner and creator of Hilliard Studio Method in Charlotte, North Carolina, focuses on arm strength for both herself and her clients. And she says that, personally, her arms are stronger today than they were in her 30s, since she added arm resistance training to her workout routine three times per week. “We begin losing muscle mass beginning around the age of 30,” Hilliard says. “While traditional workouts such as cardio and stretching are important, nothing beats resistance training for keeping our bones strong and…