The importance of health and wellness has certainly come to the forefront of the health industry in the last decade. With the baby boomer generation nearing or entering their senior years, strained health and medical services, and the realization by greater numbers of people of the limitations of medical science, society has developed an increasingly prominent attitude of responsibility towards one’s own health and wellness.

No longer are people solely relying on doctors or hospitals to make them better if they get sick. Instead, the approach has changed to one of illness prevention, to maintain or improve the state of health that already exists. The incredible boom in the health industry overall bears witness to these trends.

The importance of health and wellness is reflected by the fact that diets, weight loss programs, exercise programs and equipment, fitness facilities, spas, nutritional supplements and activity/leisure groups of all sorts are now commonplace in our everyday lives. Some of these changes are driven by the extreme demands and long waits for treatment in the health care system, but also by the desire of the working generation for a more active lifestyle after retirement, with the hope of being fit and well enough to participate in their chosen activities. For these goals to manifest into reality the base of good health must be built up throughout life, not just to try to repair the damage after it’s been done.

So it has become clear why the health industry has turned in its present direction. Only by placing the importance of health and wellness as a priority now can anyone make the most of their future.…

Read More »

What constitutes fitness? How do you know if you are physically fit or not? Just like any other physical or physiological characteristics like height or weight, fitness is a relative measurement. We can safely assume that a weekend runner is more fit than a habitual couch potato, and in turn, is less fit compared to a marathon runner. Experts use several tests to judge a person’s level of fitness. Here are some of them:

1. Resting heart rate – Your resting heart rate or pulse is the number of times your heart beats in a minute. It indicates how hard your heart needs to work in order to pump your blood around your body. A normal resting rate should be between 60 to 90 beats per minute. Well-trained athletes fall into the low-end of this normal range because their hearts have become very efficient pumping machines.

Heart rate can be affected by many factors like medicines, stress, physical activity, or stimulants like coffee. The best way to get your resting heart rate is to measure it first thing in the morning for three consecutive days.

2. Heart rate after exercise or physical activity – Your heart rate naturally goes up during exercise or physical exertion. Try to exercise for 15 minutes on a stationary bike or treadmill and then get your pulse rate. This number, just like the resting heart rate, should go down after sometime of getting into a regular aerobic exercise program.

3. Blood pressure – Blood pressure is a measure of how hard the heart has to beat in order to push your blood through your blood vessels. It also indicates how open your blood vessels are. The baseline normal blood pressure reading is 120/80 although there is a growing consensus to define it as 115/75. Blood pressure varies throughout during the day depending on several factors like mental state and physical activity. If it measures consistently higher than 140/90 throughout the day, for several days, you are considered hypertensive and should see a doctor for prescription medicines to lower it.

A regular exercise program helps to normalize your blood pressure by helping your blood vessels to relax. Again if you’re hypertensive, be sure to consult your doctor about the types of exercise routines that are appropriate for you. He or she may forbid you to do weight training exercises which can cause a rapid rise in blood pressure.

4. Percentage of body fat – In general, the more body fat you have, the more prone you are to developing health problems like heart disease, hypertension, and even some types of cancer. However, this must be considered in conjunction with other factors like diet and exercise habits. Also, where your fat is distributed may be more important; studies show that abdominal fat, the kind that deposits itself around your waist (and in your abdomen), is more associated with heart disease risks than fat that is deposited around your thighs.

This is not to say body fat is …

Read More »