Fitness

Having trouble acing your finals? Well here's one way to improve your performance--get on the treadmill. The research, which was headed by scientists from Michigan State University, found that those were more fit were able to memorize and recall more information better than those who weren't. The study is published in the online version of the journal Cognitive, Affective & Behavioral Neuroscience. "The findings show that lower-fit individuals lose more memory across time," says Kimberly Fenn, co-author of the study…
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We've all experienced it: Tossing and turning in bed that results in little to no sleep. Formally called insomnia, a prolonged loss of sleep can feel like a nightmare, affecting everything from our appetite levels to our ability to concentrate. Now researchers are asking the question: Could exercise affect our ability to sleep? While some experts say that exercising at night can make it harder to sleep--physical activity raises adrenaline, which can stimulate you--researchers are saying it's actually not a…
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Imagine it: Looking 10 or 20 years younger without any painful injections, special creams, or even surgery. Better yet, it won't cost you a dime either--in fact, it's actually free. So what is it? According to Dr. Mark Tarnopolsky, a professor of pediatrics and exercise science at McMaster University, it's exercise. "It shows that exercise is something we should be doing not just for our hearts and our brains and to lower cancer risk," says Tarnopolsky, whose study was originally…
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Want to live longer? Unfortunately, researchers haven't found the Fountain of Youth yet--but this finding could set your physical age back a few decades. Publishing their findings in the American Journal of Medicine, researchers say that having more muscle mass could stop premature death--death that occurs due to a illness or injury years before their expected demise. Unfortunately, many adults don't focus on building muscle mass well into their elderly years. "So many studies on the mortality impact of obesity…
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It's a fact: Exercise makes you healthier. But can a lot of exercise be too much of a good thing? As it turns out, the answer could be yes, according to a new study presented at the 2014 American College of Cardiology annual meeting in Washington, D.C. Dr. Martin Matsumura, who helped research the study, says that this study shows a direct link between excessive running and a higher mortality rate. "Our study didn't find any differences that could explain…
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So what's the best way to calculate your ideal heart rate for exercise? For years, experts have used a simple mathematical formula: 220 minus your age. As it turns out though, doing so now may not be accurate, according to a new study presented at the American College of Cardiology's 63rd Annual Scientific Session. "The standard that's currently in use is somewhat outdated," says Thomas Allison, M.D., senior author of the study and cardiologist and director of stress testing at…
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It's a woman worst fear: Getting diagnosed with breast cancer. Yet statistics show as women get older, their risk of breast cancer rises--by as much as a 1 in 13 chance by the time they hit age 70. But now a new meta-analysis presented at the 9th European Breast Cancer Conference shows there may be an easy way to reduce this risk: By exercising. "Previous studies have suggested that women who take regular exercise might be less likely to get…
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It's true: Exercise can make you healthier. And now new evidence from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health says exercising three or more times per week may cut your risk of vision problems in half. "While age is usually one of the most strongly associated factors for many eye diseases that cause visual impairment, it is a factor we cannot change," says Dr. Ronald Klein, M.D., MPH, who helped research the study. "Lifestyle behaviors like smoking,…
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We've been told it time and time again: Exercise is critical for your physical health. Yet few of us keep up this healthy habit, according to recent statistics, a habit that seems to start in adolescence. But making this mistake could make you 2.5 times more likely to develop early-onset dementia, according to a new study published in the journal Brain. "This makes it important to initiate more research into how physical and mental exercise can affect the prevalence of…
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With the weather warming and the sun shining, it can only mean one thing: Spring is coming. But before you hit the open trail in hopes of beginning your outdoor exercise routine, experts say you should cool down first. "The harsher the winter, the more we have to be careful not to come back too fast, too soon," says Tom Holland, a running coach and exercise physiologist. "Even people who are generally fit might do less over the winter." And,…
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