Q: For years people have said, that getting angry can raise your blood pressure but I recently heard that it can also raise your cholesterol. Sounds crazy. Is there any truth to this?
A: Yes its true.
A study with 103 healthy mid-aged women conducted by the University of Maryland and published in the Journal of Behavioral Medicine found that women with angry dispositions, given to frequent outbursts of temper, had higher cholesterol levels than those who were more even tempered. What all these women had in common besides having a short fuse is they were all sedentary and deconditioned.
But what I found most interesting is the study also found that having a short fuse didn't elevate the cholesterol in women who were physically fit.
So the message here is if you are not already exercising on a regular basis, its time to get going. Even 30 minutes most days of moderate exercise can do the trick.
Then go and scream to your heart's content.
Q: Like many women nowadays, I have been doing a lot of weight training.
Though my figure has become more defined, I'm becoming less flexible. I want that flexibility back. What kind of stretching should I be doing?
A: The worse offenders are the neck, shoulders, back, hips and legs.
The best time to stretch is right after you workout while your muscles and joints are still warmed up. Here are a series of exercises you can do to stretch those problem areas.
Neck Stretch
Place right hand on top of head. Gently pull head sideways, stretching neck towards the right shoulder. Repeat on other side. Hold for 10-20 seconds.
Diamond Stretch:
Shoulders, chest, upper back
Raise arms over head linking hands together. Slightly bend elbows.
Gently move elbows back. Hold for 10-20 counts
Back Bend: Lower Back
Stand with feet slightly apart. Take hands and make two fists and place them on the lower back.
Slowly arch backwards, keeping abdominals contracted. Hold for 10-20 counts.
Quad/Hip Stretch:
Holding on to the chair with both hands, extend one leg forward bending at the knee front heel on the floor. Extend opposite leg behind you. Lift back heel off the floor, and bend back knee.
Tilt pelvis forward and stretch the front of the back leg. Repeat with other leg. Hold for 10-20 counts.
Calf Stretch:
Face back of chair, holding on with both hands. Bring one foot a step ahead of the other slightly bending the knee while keeping the back leg straight. Shift forward as you stretch the back heel down to the floor. Repeat with other leg.
Hold 10-20 counts.
Hamstring Stretch
Extend one leg, a full step in front of the body. Flex foot. Place your hands on standing leg for support. Bend the knee of the leg you are standing on.
Keeping back flat, lean forward to stretch the back of front leg, Repeat with other leg. Hold for 10-20 counts.
