Safer Exercise

by Lana Carson, Nationally Certified Personal Trainer, Omni Fitness Club

Pick up a magazine, purchase a book, watch a video, search the internet - finding exercise and fitness information is easy, but is it safe for you?

There is no debate about the benefits of exercise, but people should be aware of the inherent risks, especially if they have health concerns. When developing an exercise program, fitness professionals first assess a client's health status. Proper screening will determine if there is a need for medical supervision or if the client may begin without restrictions.

The following categories have been established by the American College of Sports Medicine.

Low Risk Individuals have no symptoms of disease or illness and have no major coronary risk factors. Major risk factors include high blood pressure, serum cholesterol greater than or equal to 240 mg/dl, family history of heart disease, diabetes, cigarette smoking and a sedentary life-style (couch potato). Minor risk factors include age, gender, weight and stress.

Individuals in this category who are under the age of 45 can most likely start a moderate exercise program without further medical evaluations, other than a physical examination with their personal physician.

Even though the risk is relatively low in this group, people should still be aware of normal versus abnormal responses to exercise. Abnormal responses include (but are not limited to) shortness of breath, pain or palpitations in the chest or surrounding areas, light headed or dizziness or ischemia.

Any abnormal responses should terminate the exercise session and be reported to your physician immediately.

Moderate Risk Individuals are those who have at least two of the major risk factors listed above. This group should consult with their physician prior to the start of exercise and are advised to have a diagnostic stress test.

People in the moderate risk group may still participate in an exercise program, but the help of a qualified fitness professional is also advised so that the exercises and the program meet the health care needs of the individual. Obtaining exercise information from mainstream magazines, books, videos, etc. for this group is not advised because they often do not offer modifications for medical concerns.

High Risk Individuals are those who exhibit symptoms of cardiopulmonary or metabolic disease. They should consult with their physician prior to starting any sort of exercise program. It is likely that they may be referred to a cardiologist for diagnostic stress testing for valuable information concerning the safety of exercise training, functional capabilities and decisions regarding further medical evaluation or intervention.

Exercise provides health benefits to most, but health care concerns must be considered before starting any type of exercise. Consult with your physician for recommendations or restrictions. Consulting with a qualified fitness professional is also recommended to ensure that your program is best suited to your specific needs.

If you would like help designing a fitness program that's just right for you, call MarySue or Lana at the Omni Fitness Club at (231) 739-3391.

Have You Heard This One?

from Hearing Wellness Center

An elderly gentleman had serious hearing problems for a number of years.

He went to his audiologist and she was able to fit him with a set of hearing aids that allowed the gentleman to hear 100%. The elderly gentleman went back in a month and the audiologist said, "Your hearing is perfect. Your family must be really pleased that you can hear again." The gentleman replied, "Oh, I haven't told my family yet. I just sit around and listen to the conversations. I've changed my will three times!"

We don't want you to write anyone out of your will, but the days of ill fitting hearing aids that squeal and don't work can be a thing of the past. For many people with hearing loss the new technology can make an amazing difference.

You may not be able to recover 100% like the elderly gentleman in the joke, but in some ways you can be given an advantage over those folks with normal hearing. Did you know that among other things the new hearing aids with artificial intelligence will listen to the background noise and adjust the frequencies so those sounds are minimized? There are hearing aids that communicate with each other so the sound processing is done with regard to the background noise in a full 360 degrees of the listening field. There's even a bluetooth hearing aid that will connect to your iPod and cell phone. If your house or church has a loop system installed you can listen directly to the broadcast without any background noise, and no one else without a hearing aid like yours can hear what you hear.

For many types of hearing loss the new technology can be designed with an "open fit" so the ear canal isn't blocked. The sounds are more natural, and you don't get that head in a barrel effect.

Things have changed and hearing aids can do things that no one dreamed of 10 years ago. There's no reason to be excluded any longer. Your options just got a lot better.

Margaret M. "Peg" Sass-Simon, M.A., CCA-A, is a clinical/educational audiologist with Hearing Wellness Center, 6653 Grand Haven Road, Spring Lake. In Muskegon, call (231) 798-2323.

Breastfeeding and Dental Decay

by Monica J. Lakatos, D.D.S., Northshore Dental Associates

A new study just published in the October 2007 issue of Pediatrics shows that breastfeeding is NOT a risk factor for early childhood decay.

It has long been suggested that the longer a mother breastfeeds, the more likely it is that her child will get decay. This new study should help qualm mother's fears.

Early childhood decay is found throughout the general population and is a significant health concern in certain population groups. The risk factors for early childhood decay were listed as follows; poverty, Mexican-American ethnic status, and maternal prenatal smoking. The Centers for Disease Control conducted the study on 1500 children from an ethnically diverse sample. Early childhood decay was found in about 27% of the children. 60% of the children were breastfed for a period of time. Mexican-American children were found to have the highest level of early childhood decay, at 42%.

The American Dental Association wants all parents to know that a child's teeth are susceptible to decay from the time they appear in the mouth. Poor oral hygiene in the mother or caregiver can be transmitted to a child and can negatively affect the child's oral health. Dentists urge parents to promote a healthy diet, monitor a child's intake of food and drink (especially sugary items like juice, fruit snacks, etc), and to NOT put children to bed with a bottle. Bathing the teeth in sugar while sleeping is a definite way to insure childhood decay. Once decay is present in the primary teeth, the numbers of cavity causing bacteria rise. This rise in number can affect the permanent as well.

The American Academy of Pediatrics wants parents to know that breast milk is the most complete form of nutrition for infants. It is recommended that every child be breastfed if possible. Now mothers can follow their doctor's recommendations for breastfeeding without worry that they are harming their children's teeth.

Monica J. Lakatos, D.D.S., at Northshore Dental Associates, 1179 Whitehall Road in North Muskegon, can be reached at (231) 744-6100.

Good Cheers and Happy Holiday Spirit

by Eric Johnson, Manager, Health Hutt

Keep up your "Good Cheer and Holiday Spirit." Start out this Holiday season with this wonderful source of Essential Fatty Acids.

For optimal health and longevity, everyone needs EFAs daily. Nordic Naturals offers the world's finest Omega-3 fish oils from Norway. These award-winning formulas are pharmaceutical grade, doctor-recommended and third-party tested, showing they are unsurpassed in purity, freshness and taste, and are virtually contaminant free.

Hundreds of research studies around the world verify that these Omega-3 fish oils offer extraordinary health benefits, reducing inflammation and increasing blood flow throughout the brain and body. Also, taking Nordic Naturals will improve athletic performance; promote joint, heart, and skin health; support cardiovascular health, as well as memory and recall; and enhance emotional well-being.  

Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega contains 70% pure Omega-3, and is purified through molecular distillation to ensure the absence of impurities including PCBs and heavy metals.

EPA and DHA, the two main components of Omega-3 from fish oil, are essential for growth and development throughout the human life cycle.

With Nordic Naturals great tasting fruit flavored formulas, you get all the benefits of fish oil without the fishy flavor or aftertaste. We offer formulas for the whole family that taste so great, kids ask for more. Experience optimal health &try Nordic Naturals.

Stop in today for a healthy tomorrow at one of the three locations of the Health Hutt!

To ask about natural remedies or other vitamin supplements phone the Health Hutt closest to you. In Muskegon call (231) 739-1568. Be sure to watch "Forever Young" Wednesdays at 3:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. and Thursdays at 3:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. on Comcast Cable 97.