Fitness tools that tap the power of your friends - CNN.com

http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/03/tech/mobile/fitness-gadgets-motivation/index.html?cid=sf_twitter

I love using tech to help me stay motivated. Of the 7 tools mentioned in this article, I use RunKeeper and I wear a Nike Fuelband. I'm thinking about trying out Zombies, Run!

If you use technology to help keep you motivated - let us know which ones and how it is working for you.

Think your job is going to kill you, heart healthy living may be able to save you

Studies have shown that high stress jobs are bad for the heart. My patients routinely report to me that the stress of work is effecting not just their emotional but physical well being. 

New evidence now suggests that heart healthy living and avoiding known lifestyle risk factors: smoking, obesity, physical inactivity, and heavy drinking, can reduce the chance of symptomatic heart disease. 

Of the 102,128 healthy participants in the studies, 15,986 reported job strain. That subset was then sorted into these groups: healthy (no lifestyle risk factors), moderately unhealthy (one risk factor), and unhealthy (two to four risk factors).

The primary endpoint was first myocardial infarction or death from cardiovascular disease.

Adults who reported job strain and lived an unhealthy lifestyle were more than twice as likely to develop coronary artery disease in 10 years (HR 2.55, 95% CI 2.18 to 2.98) for a population attributable risk of 26.4%.

Take home message: While we may not be able to decrease our job related stress, heart healthy living can dramatically reduce the chance that our job will kill us. 

Women, Sleep and Heart Disease

Despite the mounting evidence showing the importance of sleep, many of us get too little sleep. 

A study out of San Francisco has now shown that this lack of sleep, particularly in women may contribute to developing significant coronary artery disease. 

The study found that poor sleep, particularly waking too early, appears to play a significant role in raising unhealthy levels of inflammation among women (not men) with coronary heart disease. 

These findings provide evidence that inflammation may serve as a key biological pathway through which poor sleep contributes to the progression of heart disease in women. This study also helps to shine a light on the potential gender differences that physiologically may exist between men and women. 

Please remember to get your sleep and practice healthy sleep habits:

• maintaining a regular sleep-wake schedule
• avoiding caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, and other chemicals that interfere with sleep
• making your bedroom a comfortable sleep environment
• establishing a calming pre-sleep routine
• going to sleep when you're truly tired
• not watching the clock at night
• using light to your advantage by exposing yourself to light during the day and limiting light exposure in the evening
• not napping too close to your regular bedtime
• eating and drinking enough—but not too much or too soon before bedtime
• exercising regularly—but not too soon before bedtime

Dog ownership may save your life

There is a growing body of evidence that pet ownership, particularly dogs, leads to improved cardiovascular health. 

Dog owners exercise more and therefore:

- have lower cholesterol levels

- have lower BP

- have less stress 

Take home message: Exercise is vital to cardiovascular health. While you definitely do not need to own a dog to be healthy, if you need motivation to be active or want/need company when you exercise -- consider the heart healthy benefits of dog ownership. 

Fish oil not helpful in preventing heart events

New research was just published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Researchers from Italy randomized over >12,000 individuals at high risk for heart related events to receive either 1 gram capsule of fish oil or placebo. Patients at high risk included those with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, obesity or other conditions. Most already were taking cholesterol-lowering statins, aspirin and other medicines to lower their chances of heart problems. The researchers found no difference in heart related events. 

Eating fish 1-2 times per week as part of a balanced Mediterranean Diet has been shown to reduce heart events. 

The American Heart Association recommends supplemental fish oil only for those with significantly elevated triglycerides.  

#Exercise Tip

Take a brisk walk for 30 min. 5 days; exercise w/ resistance bands 2 days

http://t.co/dEYn2nMqQi

#getfit

Today's #getfit tip @PreventionMag:

Dragging today? Exercise is a 'magic bullet' for memory & attention

http://t.co/EqbZrXMpS2