An office chair that can swivel and be adjusted to various heights and angles. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Perfect Office Chair

For the majority of us who work in office and at desk jobs, we spend a great deal of time sitting down. While sitting for most of the day seems pretty low risk compared to other occupational hazards, sitting in the same position all the time can stress the structures of the spine, and may result in injuries to the back, neck and even the wrist.

It is important to find an office chair that is ergonomically designed to support the lower back and promote good posture. An ergonomic chair cannot only prevent injury and pain in the back, but it also maximizes your function at work.

When looking for the right ergonomic chair for you, it is important to find one suited to your needs.

With so many ergonomic office chairs on the market, it’s important to research them, since there is no single chair that could be labeled the “best.” There are specific features that should be considered when looking for a desk chair, such as adjustable seat height.

Ergonomic Features

Your feet should be flat on the floor with your thighs at a horizontal position, and your arms should be even with the height of the desk. Having an adjustable armrest is also beneficial, since users can rest their arms and relax their shoulders, which can eliminate significant tension while working. You should also look for a chair with a seat that has sufficient width and depth to support any user. While working, you should be able to sit with your back resting against the back of the chair. In addition, the back should also be adjustable in its tilt forward and backwards.

One big issue about working at a desk all day is that many chairs are not designed to support the lower back. Support for our lumbar spine, or our lower back, is very important.

Our spinal curvature has an inward curve in the lumber spine, and sitting for too long without supporting it will lead to slouching and straining the structures of the lower spine. An ergonomic chair must offer lumber support and adjustment, so the user can fit the chair to the inward curve of the lower back.

Additional things to also consider are the seat material: is it comfy? An ergonomic chair with a swivel on the chair can help you reach different areas of your desk without strain.

After researching the properties of the ergonomic chairs on the market, you need to consider your specific job and what functions you need to perform. Consider your priorities and properties you need for your ergonomic chair. Once you’ve decided on the chair for you, explore stores to try the chairs out. See if they’re comfortable and meet your needs. Shop around, both online and off to make sure you get the best price and quality out there. You might also want to consider alternative ergonomic chairs, such as kneeling or saddle chairs and even the exercise ball chair.

Need help getting started?  Call us – we’re here to help!

Your St. Paul Chiropractor,

Dr. Joel

References Used:
[1] http://www.spine-health.com/wellness/ergonomics/office-chair-ergonomic-chair-alternatives-traditional-office-chairs Accessed October 2011
[2] http://www.wikihow.com/Choose-an-Ergonomic-Office-Chair Accessed October 2011
[3] http://www.officechairadvice.com/ Accessed October 2011

FIBROMYALGIA (Photo credit: *SHESHELL*)

Fibromyalgia Suffering

Fibromyalgia is a condition with no known medical cure. It is characterized by chronic and debilitating pain all over the body, and heightened pain under pressure. Its symptoms can cause patients to suffer from widespread pain, poor sleep, chronic tiredness and even depression.

The causes of fibromyalgia are unknown.

Some theories cite that the patient’s low pain threshold may be attributed to increased sensitivity in the brain to pain signals. [1] Other possible causes could be a genetic predisposition [2]; stress; the disruption of normal dopamine related neurotransmission [3]; abnormal serotonin levels [4] and deficient growth hormone secretion [5]. While there is currently no cure for the condition, its symptoms can be alleviated by chiropractic treatment.

Chiropractic Care for Fibromyalgia

Chiropractic treatment uses manipulation or adjusting, which is a technique involving short and quick thrusts to the vertebrae in the spine to shift vertebrae back into their correct position. Chiropractic care is based on the fact that dysfunction in the body arise from misalignments in the body’s skeletal structure. In order for the body to function healthily, the spine and the skeletal structure need to be set in the correct position – otherwise problems like chronic pain can arise.

Fibromyalgia causes numerous, tender points to occur all over the body, including back and neck pain and leg cramps. As a result of these symptoms, sufferers of fibromyalgia have sought treatment from chiropractors. Because the adjustments made during treatment help to restore the posture of the skeletal system, many sufferers find that treatment can help to reduce a significant amount of pain.

Some fibromyalgia sufferers experience a condition known as cervical spinal stenosis, which results in compression of the spine’s meninges, which are the coverings of the upper spine. This can result in debilitating pain all over the body. A chiropractor may be able to help with cervical spinal stenosis by adjusting the spine around the head and neck, releasing this compression and eliminating the symptoms attributed to it.[6]

The effectiveness of chiropractic care has been studied in sufferers of fibromyalgia [6], where patients were asked which method of treatment, medical or alternative, helped the best with their condition. The majority voted for chiropractic treatment. In addition, the effectiveness was tested by using spinal manipulation to relieve fibromyalgia symptoms, and after 15 treatments, results concluded that patients had reduced fatigue and pain as well as improved sleep quality.

While fibromyalgia sufferers continue to look for a cure, it is great to know that there are ways to alleviate the symptoms and live a more normal life. If you or someone you know suffers from undiagnosed chronic pain or fibromyalgia, please share this article with them and encourage them to get a chiropractic consultation.

Your St. Paul Chiropractor,

Dr. Joel

References Used:
[1] http://edition.cnn.com/HEALTH/library/fibromyalgia/DS00079.html Accessed September 2011
[2] Buskila D, Sarzi-Puttini P (2006). “Biology and therapy of fibromyalgia. Genetic aspects of fibromyalgia syndrome”. Arthritis Res Ther. 8 (5): 218. doi:10.1186/ar2005. PMC 1779444. PMID 16887010.
[3] Cervenka S, Pålhagen SE, Comley RA et al. (August 2006). “Support for dopaminergic hypoactivity in restless legs syndrome: a PET study on D2-receptor binding”. Brain 129 (Pt 8): 2017–28.doi:10.1093/brain/awl163. PMID 16816393. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
[4] Moldofsky H, Scarisbrick P, England R, Smythe H (1975).”Musculoskeletal symptoms and non-REM sleep disturbance in patients with “fibrositis syndrome” and healthy subjects”. Psychosom Med 37(4): 341–51. PMID 169541. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
[5] Anderberg UM, Liu Z, Berglund L, Nyberg F (1999). “Elevated plasma levels of neuropeptide Y in female fibromyalgia patients”. Eur J Pain 3 (1): 19–30.
[6] http://www.fibromyalgia-symptoms.org/fibromyalgia_chiropractic.html Accessed September 2011

Drink More Water

Richard Seymour of the New England Patriots. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Water is the elixir of life, but do we get enough of it? Many people think that substituting sodas, coffee and juice for water is enough to keep us hydrated and healthy, but nothing can beat the original and the best – water.
Our bodies are made up of 43-75% water, and it’s an essential component of our health. The wide range in percentages comes from measuring different populations ranging from newborns (~75%) to obese people (~45%), with normal adult hydration at about 57-60%.

We can survive a month without food, but we’ll die after a week without water. The body is able to absorb many nutrients and salts better thanks to water’s ability to transport these nutrients and oxygen to our body’s cells and organs. Detoxifying is vitally important to our health, since it cleans our bodies of impurities. The best way to excrete these impurities is through urine and sweat – both of which depend on our water intake. Upping your water intake may help to reduce the risk of kidney stone formation. The kidneys filter our waste products through the blood and out via urination. If the concentration of salt in our urine is high, and our water content low, this increases the risk of kidney stone formation. By drinking more water, this concentration of salts is reduced.

We are at risk of sunstroke if our bodies become dehydrated. When we sweat, this cools our body down. If dehydrated, the body cannot sweat and overheats, which can damage the body’s internal organs.

If you suffer from high blood pressure, maybe it’s your water intake that is the problem. When our bodies excrete and lose more than the optimal amount of liquid, our blood vessels constrict, which can cause our blood pressure to increase. If blood pressure is increased by a deficiency in water, this may also increase the risk of heart disease. Because the constricted blood vessels cause an increase in blood pressure, the heart works harder to compensate for the reduced volume of blood. Lower blood pressure and greater consumption of water help lower stress on the heart.

What’s more, drinking more water can help you stay younger looking.

Drinking a lot of water helps keep the skin clean and fresh-looking by removing impurities through sweating. Water also helps to keep the skin hydrated, which means younger looking skin – sagging and wrinkled skin is usually a sign of dehydration. Drinking water also cuts hunger pangs and acts as a good filler. Water has zero calories, so consider trading in your sugary drinks and juices to help control your weight.

If increasing your water intake seems like a chore, why not add lemon or mint to your bottle to make it taste better? Eat more fruits rich in water such as watermelon, and try to drink water more regularly over the course of the day. Having a glass of water or water bottle near you during the day has been shown to increase water consumption without effort.

References Used
[1] http://www.jbc.org/content/203/1/359.full.pdf Accessed October 2011
[2] http://thetaoofgoodhealth.com/10-health-reasons-why-you-should-drink-more-water-4/ Accessed October 2011
[3] http://www.uihealthcare.com/topics/generalhealth/ghea5288.html Accessed 2011

Read this compelling article from the NYTimes…

The value of mental-training games may be speculative, as Dan Hurley writes in his article on the quest to make ourselves smarter, but there is another, easy-to-achieve, scientifically proven way to make yourself smarter. Go for a walk or a swim. For more than a decade, neuroscientists and physiologists have been gathering evidence of the beneficial relationship between exercise and brainpower. But the newest findings make it clear that this isn’t just a relationship; it is the relationship. Using sophisticated technologies to examine the workings of individual neurons — and the makeup of brain matter itself — scientists in just the past few months have discovered that exercise appears to build a brain that resists physical shrinkage and enhance cognitive flexibility. Exercise, the latest neuroscience suggests, does more to bolster thinking than thinking does. (Read Full Article:  http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/22/magazine/how-exercise-could-lead-to-a-better-brain.html?_r=1&ref=magazine)

This is particularly fascinating when we consider the aging process and the effects it has on cognition and memory.

Beginning in our late 20s, most of us will lose about 1 percent annually of the volume of the hippocampus, a key portion of the brain related to memory and certain types of learning.

So get out and exercise!

Computer Ergonomics

Computer work has become the backbone of most of our daily lives. But with its rise in the workplace, there has been a concurrent increase in injuries associated with repetitive computer work, such as carpal tunnel syndrome and repetitive strain injury. Incorrect usage of a keyboard or a mouse can be the culprit, since unnatural keyboard positions exert stress on the muscles, tendons and ligaments in the hands and wrists. An unsupported wrist can be the cause of wrist fatigue, and if your wrist is resting in the incorrect position, extensive typing, can pose a threat.

Ergonomic equipment can help to minimize the risks of injury during extended computer work. If you are a frequent computer user, it might be worth investing in an ergonomic mouse pad or keyboard.

What To Look For

When looking for an ergonomic mouse pad, there are some key features to take into consideration. Look for a mouse pad that allows you to maintain your natural hand position. It needs to imitate the position the wrist has when at rest, by providing an angled surface. Also, make sure the mouse pad has a non-slip grip to ensure it remains in place under normal movement. Purchasing an ergonomic mouse pad and choosing one made from soft material or filled with a soft gel can help to remove the pressure from the tendons and nerves. Hard materials cause compression and pressure on the tendons and nerves in the wrist, and can lead to pain and discomfort.

Most importantly, check that the pad is comfortable, offering a good position for your wrist at rest and good freedom of movement while working.

When it comes to keyboards, a wrist rest is a good investment, since it’s designed to give your wrists a break after typing for long periods of time. If you’re typing incorrectly, it helps to alleviate the pain associated with repetitive strain injury or carpal tunnel syndrome. A good wrist rest helps to keep your wrists off the edge of the hard desk and can also help to prevent incorrect posture during typing.

Before buying a wrist rest, make sure you know the height and width of your keyboard. There are many styles available on the market, and it’s important to find the wrist rest comfortable for you. It needs to be the same height and width of your keyboard and it’s key to find a wrist rest that conforms to the shape of your wrist. When placing the wrist rest against the edge of the keyboard, there shouldn’t be a gap between the two. Adjust the position so that the wrist rest is set at the edge of the desk.

More ergonomic questions?  Don’t hesitate to call us – we’re here to help!

Dr. Joel

References used:
[1] http://www.healthycomputing.com/office/setup/keyboard/ Accessed October 2011
[2] http://www.ehow.com/how_7260284_use-wrist-rest.html Accessed October 2011
[3] http://www.ehow.com/how_2216327_choose-ergonomic-mouse-pad.html Accessed October 2011
[4] http://www.wisegeek.com/do-i-need-a-wrist-rest-for-my-mouse-pad-and-keyboard.htm Accessed October 2011.

What makes the Pettibon technique different from conventional chiropractic treatment or other methods used in the chiropractic world? The Pettibon technique offers comprehensive and active rehabilitation for its patients, based on a program focusing on the spine’s hard and soft tissues. What makes the Pettibon system unique is its use of x-rays for both diagnosis and assessment of the progress of treatment.

While Dr. Pettibon was a student at Cleveland Chiropractic College, he found that there was no defined optimum spinal position for use as a control during treatment. During the 60s and 70s, Dr. Pettibon developed a model for the upright and ideal spine, which is used as the frame of reference for diagnosis.

The x-ray procedures assure exact diagnoses, assess progress and monitor whether treatment is effective. Under the Pettibon system, the patient undergoes an initial x-ray examination with seven views of the spine taken routinely and whenever necessary. These x-rays are used to measure impairments and are used to see how the patient responds to chiropractic care under the Pettibon technique. As treatment progresses, the initial x-rays are then compared with the x-rays during treatment in order to see whether improvements are taking shape. The Pettibon system uses seated x-rays, since abnormal spinal forms are difficult to detect until the soft tissues in the spine fall. The soft tissues hold the hard tissues or the vertebrae together, and when these no longer support the hard tissues, the spine buckles into its injured position. The seated x-rays used in the Pettibon method are useful for diagnosis, since there is an increase in stress in the spinal para-vertebral soft tissue. The seated position also eliminates the influence of leg muscle contractions during standing, which can also affect the spine’s position.

Another set of characteristics of the Pettibon technique are that its patients are not accepted for treatment by default. Only after a series of tests ensure that the technique can help the patient and a determination of how the chiropractor can provide effective care is the patient accepted for treatment. Such testing is done using the Pettibon system weights and by having the lateral cervical spine re-x-rayed. A chiropractor using the Pettibon system also needs to assess whether the postural muscles are strong enough to respond to care. In addition to the rigorous testing of patient responses before treatment, once a patient is accepted for treatment under the Pettibon system, the patient is expected to play an active role in his or her care. Instead of waiting idly in the waiting room of their chiropractor, patients perform warm-up exercises and stretch their muscles. In addition, the chiropractor trains the patients in home care for faster progress and correction.

References used:
[1] http://www.pettiboninstitute.org/ Accessed September 2011
[2] http://www.pettibonsystem.com/ Accessed September 2011

What is C-Reactive Protein?

With frequent news coverage of late, C-Reactive protein is a term that has been bandied about in the media – but what is it exactly? Produced in the liver, C-Reactive protein, or CRP, is a protein that is released into the bloodstream as a response to inflammation in the body. High levels of CRP are a cause for alarm, since its presence can be linked to inflammation possibly arising from infection, lupus, tuberculosis, heart attack risk, burns and even cancer [1].

CRP is believed to play a significant role in the body’s early defense mechanism against infections [2], where its physiological role is to bind with a compound present on the surface of dead and dying cells, and even some bacteria, known as phosphocholine. It then activates the complement system, a part of the immune system called the “innate immune system,” via the C1Q complex [3].

The usefulness of the C-reactive protein is its ability to determine the progress of a disease, and it can also be used to assess whether a treatment for diseases associated with inflammation are working or not. In order to measure the levels of CRP in the blood, first a blood sample from the patient must be collected and analyzed. The levels of CRP in healthy individuals are negligible and will not show up in the test. For sufferers of diseases associated with inflammation, the test will show various levels of CRP in the blood. The measurement of CRP in the bloodstream not only can also help to determine whether someone is at risk of heart disease, but also assesses the severity of the risk [2].

Studies have found that patients who have raised basal levels of C-Reactive proteins are at an increased risk from diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases [4][5]. There is also a strong correlation between the lipid responses to low fat and high-polyunsaturated fat diets and CRP levels [6].

Some organs in the body are at an increased risk from cancer when they become chronically inflamed, and such inflammation may be highlighted by the presence of CRP in the body. In one study [7] samples were collected from sufferers of colon cancer and a control group, the average levels of CRP in those with colon cancer measured 2.69mg/l, whereas those in the control group had a mean value of 1.97mg/l. With significant difference between the two groups, this supports previous studies that connect the intake of anti-inflammatory medication with the lowering of colon cancer risks [8].

While the measurement of CRP cannot pinpoint the exact location of the inflammation in the body, it can be used to monitor and detect the presence of diseases associated with inflammation, and can monitor whether medication is effective on inflammatory diseases being treated.

References
[1] Ridker PM, Libby P. Risk Factors for Atherothrombotic Disease. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Zipes DP, eds. Braunwald’s Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa; Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap 39.
[2] http://www.creactiveprotein.org/ Accessed September 2011
[3] Thompson, D; Pepys, MB; Wood, SP (February 1999). “The physiological structure of human C-reactive protein and its complex with phosphocholine”. Structure 7 (2): 169–77.
[4] Pradhan AD; Manson, JE; Rifai, N; Buring, JE; Ridker, PM (2001). “C-reactive protein, interleukin 6, and risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus”. JAMA 286 (3): 327–34.
[5] Dehghan A; Kardys, I; de Maat, MP; Uitterlinden, AG; Sijbrands, EJ; Bootsma, AH; Stijnen, T; Hofman, A et al. (March 2007).
[6] St-Onge MP, Zhang S, Darnell B, Allison DB (April 2009). “Baseline serum C-reactive protein is associated with lipid responses to low-fat and high-polyunsaturated fat diets”. J. Nutr. 139 (4): 680–3.
[7] Erlinger TP, Platz EA, Rifai N, Helzlsouer KJ (February 2004). “C-reactive protein and the risk of incident colorectal cancer”. Journal of the American Medical Association 291 (5): 585–90.
[8] Baron JA, et al. (2003). “A randomized trial of aspirin to prevent colorectal adenomas”. N Engl J Med 348 (10): 891–9.

Triathlon Training

Triathlete in the cycling portion of the event. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A triathlon is an athletic event incorporating back-to-back running, cycling and swimming. Triathlons exert great strain on the body, which may challenge athletes on both physical and mental levels. The extreme training a triathlete must endure can put the body under great cumulative stress, and it’s not uncommon for the athletes to suffer from a broad range of injuries and overuse stresses.

There are numerous worldwide triathlon events, such as Ironman, Half-Ironman, Olympic and Spring. The majority of these events advocate the use of chiropractic care to aid not only in treating injuries, but also to improve performance. Chiropractic care offers the possibility of enhanced finishing times and a greater likelihood of triathletes finishing events.

Chiropractic treatment is a practice that focuses on the neuromuscular skeletal system and its use optimizes biomechanics. For these reasons, chiropractic care is ideal for athletes looking to treat or prevent injuries.

One type of chiropractic treatment used by many triathletes is the “Active Release Technique,” which is a form of soft tissue treatment based on an advanced movement massage system. It is very effective in locating and treating the cause of soft tissue conditions.

Active Release Techniques are used in most of the large name triathlons. Many triathletes suffer from injuries attributed to repetitive strain and stress, since excessive training can result in muscle restrictions due to adhesion formation. Before treatment takes place, a biomechanical analysis of the athlete is conducted to determine the exact location of restrictions in the body along the kinetic chain.

Active Release Techniques focus on specific tissues that have become restricted physically, and are then manipulated back into their original texture, tension and position. Once the soft tissues are repositioned, specific exercises are then carried out in order to aid the recovery of damaged tissues.

Unlike most treatments, treating the injured triathlete with chiropractic care does not require extended rest periods before improvements are seen. It is very common that injured athletes who receive the Active Release Technique show signs of improvement in just a few sessions. For those who are looking to invest only in preventive treatment, improvement in performance is also achieved in the span of a few sessions.

A possible reason that chiropractic care prior to an event can result in performance enhancement may be that spinal adjustments improve the body’s maximal oxygen consumption ability. Since prevention is easier than treatment of an injury, many professional athletes invest in preventive and performance enhancing chiropractic treatment.

References:
[1] http://www.kinetichealth.ca/4-Triathalon.html Accessed September 2011
[2] http://www.bthconline.com/sport-injuriesperformance.html Accessed September 2011

Related articles

• Can Chiropractic Improve Golf Performance? (lifestylechirocenter.com)
• Degenerative Disc Disease and Chiropractic Care (lifestylechirocenter.com)
• Who’s Beating Back Pain in America and How Are They Doing It? (lifestylechirocenter.com)

A package and pill of atorvastatin 40mg (Lipitor). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Statins are a popular drug among physicians – they are the most prescribed class of drugs.  People are given statins to help lower cholesterol.  They are marketed heavily as a necessary component in fighting cardiovascular disease.

When diet and exercise are not enough, ask your doctor about Lipitor.

We’ve all heard the commercials.  We’ve seen the smiling faces.  It’s simple really – just pop this pill and avoid heart disease.  High cholesterol is bad, low cholesterol is good – and statin drugs like Lipitor, Crestor, and Vytorin are the answer.  And pay no attention to the fast-talking, lowered voice in the background as it rattles off the list of side effects.

This makes the huge assumption that this individual is actually making the lifestyle changes and to the degree necessary for the desired result.

Now evidence points to the notion that adverse side effects are actually greater when the individual exercises.

Great.

So an individual striving  to be proactive and start exercising may learn they no longer have the same capacity to work out – now that they are taking the statin drug.

This recent article in the NY Times details the research:

To learn more about the effect statins have on exercising muscles, scientists in Strasbourg, France, recently gave the cholesterol-lowering drug Lipitor to a group of rats for two weeks, while a separate control group was not medicated. Some of the rats from both groups ran on little treadmills until they were exhausted.

It was immediately obvious that the medicated animals couldn’t run as far. They became exhausted much earlier than the rats that had not been given statins.

The differences were even more striking at a cellular level. When the scientists studied muscle tissues, they found that oxidative stress, a measure of possible cell damage, was increased by 60 percent in sedentary animals receiving statins, compared with the unmedicated control group.

The effect was magnified in the runners, whose cells showed 226 percent more oxidative stress than exercising animals that had not been given statins.  (Full article: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/14/do-statins-make-it-tough-to-exercise/#)

Statin drugs should be more heavily scrutinized.  Hampering your ability to exercise is a ridiculous barrier to enter into the equation.  Most people prescribed a statin will be refilling it for the rest of their lives.  Can you imagine having difficulty with physical activity for the rest of your life?

Every individual should think long and hard about this as a decision.  You maybe haven’t been told you have high cholesterol and need a statin.  Perfect – let’s keep it that way!  Health is not something you pick up from your doctor.  It definitely doesn’t come in a pill.  In most cases, it is earned.

How do you earn it?

Living a chiropractic lifestyle means living naturally in a way to maximize your health.

This includes actually doing the proper amount and kind of exercise that yields the most benefit. This means eating the proper foods.  And this means maintaining a nervous system free of interference so that your body can function fully and optimally.

Need help getting started?  Call us – we’re here to help!

(Photo credit: Mr Thinktank)

Many people believe that exercise is something only fat people should do, and a lot of people exercise with the sole goal of losing weight. So why should thin people exercise if they are already at the ideal dress size and optimal weight?

Even though exercise helps a great deal with weight loss, it also improves our health in many other ways such as reducing the risk of heart disease, lowering cholesterol levels and reducing high blood pressure. Even though these conditions are associated with obesity health risks, thin and sedentary people shouldn’t assume they are risk-free. Lean exercisers have good levels of LDL cholesterol, the heart clogging variety, as you’d expect.

However their thin but inactive counterparts were found to have the same levels of LDL seen in obese people! In fact, an overweight exerciser is actually more likely to be comparable to a thin exerciser rather than an inactive thin person in terms of cholesterol levels.

Having high cholesterol and a risk of heart disease is more about how much exercise you get, rather than what your body mass index is.A study [1] found that lean exercisers were fitter and had a reduced chance of developing cardiovascular diseases compared to those who don’t exercise. Exercise is essential for a healthy heart – no matter your weight.

Exercise also helps protect against viruses and disease. In the short term, regular cardiovascular activity can help to boost the immune system, and in turn makes you less susceptible to viruses such as the common cold, influenza and helps to protect against any kind of infection. In the long term, regular exercise makes the body overall healthier, by lowering the risk of serious diseases such as strokes, heart disease, high blood pressure and cholesterol, diabetes and even cancer.

Being thin and being healthy and strong are not a given. There are many thin people who are far from healthy. Those who work out can run and walk faster and longer distances, and on the whole, have greater endurance.

Exercise is also a great energy boost. It can help to burn away fatigue and raise energy levels. People who work out more often find they sleep better and are more refreshed during the day. If you’re suffering from mental disorders such as depression or anxiety, exercising allows you to disconnect and alleviate stress and relax the mind. Endorphins are released after exercise, which are helpful in battling depression.

Finally, physical activity does keep the pounds off. Most thin people who are sedentary have a fast metabolism, and in some cases this is for life, but for many of us as we age, our metabolisms will slow down and we will inevitably gain weight unless we lead the proper lifestyle. So it’s in everyone’s best interest to get in the habit of working out and keep those pounds off!

References Used:
[1] O’Donovan G, Owen A, Kearney EM, Jones DW, Nevill AM, Woolf-May K, Bird SR., Int J Obes (Lond). 2005 Sep;29(9):1063-9.
[2] http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4778274.stm Accessed October 2011
[3] http://www.fitday.com/fitness-articles/nutrition/vitamins-minerals/5-reasons-why-thin-people-have-to-exercise-too.html Accessed October 2011