Exercise: The Powerful Intervention Needed to Boost Immunity & Fight COVID-19
According to the New England Journal of Medicine, “As the U.S. health care system defines the new normal in the Covid-19 era, it needs a new approach to providing routine preventive care for adults and children [1].” What should this care entail? A vaccine will help our bodies develop immunity to the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes […]
How to Beat the Anxiety Epidemic – It Starts With Exercise: Interview with Dr. Jennifer Heisz
Can exercise really beat anxiety? Can it be used as medicine to treat both the mind and body? According to an expert in brain health, Dr. Jennifer Heisz, the answer is a resounding “Yes.” Dr. Heisz is a neuroscientist, the Director of the NeuroFit Lab at McMaster University, and the author of the book, Move The Body, Heal The Mind: […]
Is Covid Aging Us? What Experts Reveal and How Exercise Combats the Pandemic’s Physical Toll
As Covid-19 waxes and wanes, we might feel we’re aging faster than ever. The truth is – we are. Accelerated aging can result from many factors, including dealing with a global pandemic. Issues such as infectious disease exposure, chronic stress, and loneliness can speed up aging. But there is something that can be done to […]
Research Links Exercise Directly to Improved Brain Power in Children and Teens
A recent study reveals that a sedentary lifestyle and physical inactivity are prevalent among children and adolescents and are negatively linked to their physical and psycho-cognitive health. Insert a pandemic, and these health issues are now two-fold. According to pediatric endocrinologist Dr. Marisa Censani, “Before COVID-19, obesity affected around 20% of American children 2 to 19 years of age. Now, […]
The Price of Physical Inactivity During COVID-19 – What A New Study Finds
During the pandemic, the U.S. has been rolling out massive campaigns to reduce the transmission of COVID-19. Americans have seen countless public service announcements about wearing masks and staying socially distanced. Now that vaccines are available, there is a galvanization of research institutions, advertising agencies, and even former Presidents creating campaigns with the hope of […]
PTSD & Cognitive Effects in First Responders: Symptoms, Treatment, and Hope
The Journal of Emergency Medical Services suggests the mental health of first responders is highly overlooked. Even with the constant exposure to the job’s trauma and physical demands, front-line workers’ mental health needs are still not a priority. This oversight leads to re-occurring stress, suicide-ideation, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among first responders – resulting in health […]
Trauma & Stress on First Responders: How Exercise May Be the Intervention Needed to Increase Resilience
First Responders are expected to maintain high-performance levels and make the right decisions under extreme conditions. However, exposure to violence, human suffering, and aspects of the job itself, such as physical work demands and unpredictable schedules, are demanding, taking a heavy toll on these frontline workers. These demands can lead to stress, anxiety, trauma, suicide-ideation, […]
SEL, Exercise, and Cognitive Function: The Building Blocks to the Whole Person
Just as a home may seem strong when the weather is calm, teens may show social and mental strength when they have the support of their parents, teachers, and communities during high school. But what happens when the weather turns? Will teens have the same resiliency when they are on their own? Just as a […]
Lymphatic System & Addiction: How Exercise Boosts Immunity and Fights Infection During Recovery
When searching online, most blogs and fitness articles will tell us that exercise is good for inflammation and our immune system. But “how” physical activity targets this area of the body is often overlooked. In this edition of our Addiction: Head to Toe series, we take a deep dive into how and why exercise is crucial for immune health […]
Genes Related to Inflammation Shed Light on Depression and How Exercise Can Help
Depression affects more than 168 million people worldwide and is one of the significant causes of disease. We understand that depression has substantial effects on overall health and wellness; however, evidence-based research on treating depression is still lacking. Now scientists are looking at our genes to develop new ways to manage mental health disorders. A recent study […]