Is Running Good For You?

Even a hard-working plastic surgeon in Fort Myers, Florida has to take some time off and get away for a bit.

I was in Philadelphia this weekend and my son Jay and I were looking for a cab – I thought for a moment I would run to catch up to him.  As much as I tried, I just could not do it.  I have severe arthritis in my left ankle from when I played soccer in college.

Generally running is good for your health but running more that 20 miles per week may be harmful and cause cardiac damage.  A body of research/evidence seems to point to the possibility that excessive running can cause coronary artery hardening.  Also there may be increased risk of atrial fibrillation or heart rate irregularities.  I guess that old axiom – all things in moderation - applies here too!

Run responsibly, my friends.

It's smart to stay smart.

I guess the more we use a part of our body the better it works.  

We’re told that playing cards or doing puzzles is a great way to maintain cognitive function as we age.  

Well, maybe we need to put down the cards and exercise for awhile. 

A recent study in the Journal of Neurology followed 700 people born in 1936 and found that those individuals who were physically active showed less shrinkage of the brain and less decline in cognitive functioning. 

So hop on that bike or treadmill.  I knew there was a reason I go to the gym at 3:00 AM!  Ugh!  Now I know it’s good for me – I think.

For more, interesting health news, visit my website at http://www.Beauty-by-Brueck.com

EXCERCISE-NEW BRAIN FOOD

Dr. Robert J Brueck, MD, Fort Myers plastic surgeon, blogs here and informs on matters of plasti surgery at Beauty-by-Brueck.com

Get Smart

The list is endless for foods to eat or puzzles to solve to help restore normal brain function.

We hear playing chess or bridge can slow cerebral aging or dys function.

Now we have evidence that aerobic exercise can have a positive effect in slowing down the aging of our brain. A person who performs moderate aerobic exercise for a year can lessen shrinkage of our hippocampus by 1-2 years.

What is the hippocampus? This is the part of our brain that is the memory center.

So not only will you be thinner, you now will be smart.

HIT THE GYM -Thoughts on Exercise from Dr. Brueck, MD

This is one in a series of blog messages presented periodically by Dr. Robert Brueck, MD, on the subject of health and well-being. Dr. Brueck is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon practicing in Cape coral and Fort Myers, FL. More information concerning the contribution cosmetic surgery makes to health can be found at Dr. Brueck's web site, Beauty-by-Brueck.com

"Hit the Gym"

Where have we heard this before? We all know the gym is good for us and can help prevent many diseases and keep our weight in check. There has always been an ongoing discussion concerning diets, fat, cellulite, Body Mass Index and exercise.

It all seems to change like the seasons.

A recent article in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) suggests that women need MORE EXERCISE. The current federal guidelines suggest 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Supposedly a woman needs that much to prevent heart disease and other medical conditions. BUT- to prevent weight gain women need 60 minutes a day, 7 days a week.

These were the results of a study done in 2002. The current researchers in the JAMA article looked at 34,079 women over a 15 year span with the ages being greater than 45 and the average being around 54. They tracked their activity “ another word for exercise”.

Women who exercise 60 minutes a day DID NOT GAIN WEIGHT, but that assumes the calorie count stays the same. IE: no banana cream pie and ice cream 5 days a week.

So there it is - sign up now and get your place in line for the treadmill or elliptical so you don’t put on the unwanted pounds and create an unsightly bulge around the mid section.

How to Make Happy New Year happy all year long. Advice from Fort Myers Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Brueck

This can be a challenging objective:

It seems as though many bygone years of good intentions have fallen by the wayside. It seems fewer and fewer people are making “New Year” resolutions.

But I have made one and can’t wait to share it with you!

EXERCISE.

We have all heard of the obesity epidemic - the term "couch potato". The truth is, it is NOT a mirage. It is real.

Put simply, the choice to exercise or not is entirely yours!

There are so many advantages to exercising, such as:

• 27% reduction in strokes,
• 50% reduction in death,
• 40% reduction in high blood pressure;
• it can also reduce the risk of recurrent breast cancer by 50%,
• the risk of colon cancer by 60%,
• the risk of Alzheimer’s by 40%
• and get this, it can even lower depression as effectively as Prozac.

You may gain all of these health benefits along with getting a “lean, mean-machine body".

Is their any doubt about the value of exercise?.

I think the benefits are obvious but the real question is, what you have to do to get these benefits. You can go to the government website online at: health.gov/paguidelines and the recommendations include the following:

• At least 2 and a half hours of moderate intensity or 1hr15min of vigorous intensity-aerobic activities should last at least 10 minutes

• Additional health benefits accrue to those who double the amount above

• Muscle strengthening of major muscle groups at least 2 times a week

• Moderate activity can include ballroom and line dancing, biking on level ground, walking, tennis (doubles)

• Vigorous activity is singles tennis, heavy gardening such as digging holes or hoeing, and race walking

But the real debate - the real question is, "Is more better?"

Dr. Paul Wilhorim studied 100,000 runners over 20 years. He has been shunned by some in the medical community, but his research is impressive.

He feels that, by exceeding the federal guidelines, you can reduce the risk of stroke, heart attack, glaucoma, diabetes and other diseases by 70%.

On the flip side some doctors feel “excessive” exercise can lead to injury. Excessive exercise can induce the release of stress hormones which can dampen the immune system.

No easy answer, but one thing is for sure, the right amount of exercise CAN lead to a healthier and more productive life.

Fort Myers, FL, cosmetic surgeon, Dr. Robert J. Brueck, deals with issues
of obesity-related plastic surgery procedures on his web site.
Visit http://www.Beauty-by-Brueck.com for more information.