As many as 127 million Americans are categorized as overweight, according to the American Obesity Association. Obesity is a contributing factor to vast number of serious conditions and illnesses, but many are unfamiliar with how obesity contributes to low back pain.

A recent study on women who were diagnosed with breast cancer found that those with low Vitamin D levels were more likely to suffer a recurrence of breast cancer or die from the disease. Though the study does not offer conclusive evidence of a causal link, doctors are recommending that newly-diagnosed breast cancer patients have their Vitamin D levels checked.

Excess weight:
One of the easiest suggestions to follow could also be among the most difficult for many Americans. Excess weight can take a serious toll on the back and body as a whole. Try carrying a 10 pound weight around all day and you might begin to understand the ill effects of excess weight gain.

Stress reduction:

Your metabolic rate is what determines how many calories you use every day, it determines how many calories you need to maintain your current weight. It is a function controlled by your thyroid and is largely also a function of your muscle mass.

Muscle, unlike body fat, is metabolically active. Muscle needs energy (calories) just to exist. Every ounce of muscle is using up calories just by being in place on your body. Fat is not metabolically active, and although large amounts of fat are heavy to move around, just the existence of fat does not require any energy/calories.

In the last two decades, the incidence of strokes in middle-aged women, or those among ages 35 to 54, has tripled and nearly quadrupled. Two percent of women, or 1 in 50, reported suffering from a stroke in a recent study. The last time this information was collected in the early 1990s, the rate was about half of one percent, or 1 in 200. The only other significant change from the previous report was an increase in body mass index, or BMI, from 27 to 29. With more women falling into the overweight and obese categories, they are at risk for a host of other health problems.

A recent study from Stanford shows promising results for middle-aged and older people looking to get fit. In a controlled experiment, two groups of “fairly sedentary” people were encouraged to exercise at least 150 minutes per week. One group was given literature emphasizing the importance of an active lifestyle, while the other group’s members received personal digital assistants (PDAs) so they could schedule reminders for workout time. The dramatic results?

“Cardio” ... the term refers to any exercise where the heart and lungs are involved. If you have an elevation in your heart rate (expressed as bpm or beats per minute) and in your rate of respiration rate, then you are doing some form of "Cardio"....

The term “Aerobic” refers to a state in which the cardiovascular work is being performed. “Aerobic” translates to mean ‘with oxygen’ and so "Aerobics" is a cardiovascular exercise that is performed "with oxygen." This is a low to moderate activity that can be performed for long periods of time.

Diet, exercise, family history – these are factors we all know about that influence our cardiac health. But did you know that noise can have an impact?