Search Weight Loss Topics:

Page 1,034«..1020..1,0331,0341,0351,036..1,0401,050..»

Home » Page 1034

Get all the latest news on coronavirus and more delivered daily to your inbox.Sign up here.

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has some looking for ways to keep their immune systems in tip-top shape, and theres evidence that vitamin D can help with exactly that. But taking too much of this dietary supplement can be dangerous, doctors warned in a paper published earlier this month in the British Medical Journal.

Medical professionals already know that vitamin D helps to strengthen bones, and the supplement has also been said to regulate cellular functions throughout the body. And in relation to the novel coronavirus, there are some trials underway to study the effectiveness of vitamin D on hospitalized COVID-19 patients, such as one in Spain.

To date, however, there are no clinical studies that show the effectiveness of vitamin D, or any other supplements or vitamins, to treat the coronavirus.

CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE

Though vitamin D is essential for good health, there is no strong scientific evidence to show that very high intakes (i.e., mega supplements) of vitamin D will be beneficial in preventing or treating COVID-19, doctors from the United Kingdom, the United States and Ireland wrote in the paper titled Vitamin D and SARS-CoV-2 virus/ COVID-19 disease.

There are evidenced health risks with excessive vitamin D intakes, especially for those with other health issues such as a reduced kidney function, they added.

Just like everything else, taking too much of something is not a good thing. Vitamin D has lots of benefits but taking too much vitamin D can also cause problems, Dr. John Whyte, the chief medical officer for the healthcare website WebMD, told Fox News.

Dr. John Whyte, the chief medical officer of the health care website WebMD, echoed the 21 doctors who wrote the paper.

Just like everything else, taking too much of something is not a good thing. Vitamin D has lots of benefits, but taking too much vitamin D can also cause problems, Whyte, who was not involved in the paper, told Fox News in an email.

The biggest issue relates to calcium and its relationship to vitamin D. Too much vitamin D may result in too much calcium, which could result in kidney stones, he explained.

VITAMIN D LEVELS MAY IMPACT COVID-19 MORTALITY RATES, STUDY CLAIMS

More often, people develop abdominal discomfort or nausea when calcium gets too high. You might also feel like youre thirsty a lot. Over the years, Ive seen some patients develop constipation from taking too much vitamin D on a daily basis. It can also make you more tired and cause muscle and bone pain. Bone pain can be concerning because vitamin D plays an important role in bone health. Too much vitamin D can actually cause bone loss and that might make you more likely to develop a fracture, he continued. So I dont recommend people take megadoses. Moderation is always a good thing.

The news comes after a research team led by Northwestern University discovered a strong correlation between vitamin D deficiency and mortality rates from the coronavirus.

The researchers -- who analyzed data from hospitals and clinics across China, France, Germany, Italy, Iran, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdomand the United States -- found that patients from countries with high COVID-19 mortality rates, such as Italy, Spainand the United Kingdom, had lower levels of vitamin D compared to patients in countries that were not as severely affected.

The researchers also found a strong correlation between vitamin D levels and cytokine storm, which is a hyperinflammatory condition caused by an overactive immune system.

"Cytokine storm can severely damage lungs and lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome and death in patients," Ali Daneshkhah, a postdoctoral research associate at Northwestern's McCormick School of Engineering, said in a statement. "This is what seems to kill a majority of COVID-19 patients, not the destruction of the lungs by the virus itself. It is the complications from the misdirected fire from the immune system."

However, not unlike what Whyte said and the authors of the paper published this month in the British Medical Journal, the scientists also cautioned against hoarding vitamin D supplements.

VITAMIN D AND THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC: SHOULD YOU TAKE IT?

"While I think it is important for people to know that vitamin D deficiency might play a role in mortality, we don't need to push vitamin D on everybody," Northwestern's Vadim Backman, who led the research, said in a statement. "This needs further study, and I hope our work will stimulate interest in this area. The data also may illuminate the mechanism of mortality, which, if proven, could lead to new therapeutic targets."

Fox News's Christopher Carbone contributed to this article.

Read more from the original source:
Taking vitamin D amid coronavirus: Doctors warn against 'megadoses' of the dietary supplement - Fox News

Read More..

I almost forgot how "new streaming service day" went down. Today's introduction of WarnerMedia's HBO Max was...interesting. We've already broken it all down for you, but if you want to experience HBO Now on HGH, you should be firing up HBO Max at some point today. It's probably the truest competitor to what Disney+ offered during the last insane "new streaming service day".

While we're cross the "what's the point of HBO Now?" bridge when we come to it, you reallyshouldspend some time diving into HBO Max. For those of you who are really about this streaming life, the juggle of services to fully satiate your entertainment hunger can be real. With HBO Max, you're not only getting the best of HBO, but you're getting loads of legacy content like Friendsand many of your favorite HBO original series, as well asthe libraries of Cartoon Network, [adult swim], Studio Ghibli, Turner Classic Movies, the DC Universe, and much more. It can be overwhelming, but that's where we come in (as per usual) to help ease you into HBO Max's core shows. The forever binges that are baked into the service from Launch.

Here is a look at the best TV shows you can stream right now on HBO Max, day one.

Read more:
HBO Max: The 9 Best TV Shows You Can Watch Right Now (May 2020) - Complex

Read More..

Global Infrared Search and Track (IRST) Equipment Market 2020 by Manufacturers, Regions, Type and Application, Forecast to 2025, the research report published by Researchstore.biz consolidates valuable insights related to the market covering different factors that are likely to influence the prospects of the market through the forecast period (2020-2025). The report focuses on the historical and current market trends to predict the course of the global Infrared Search and Track (IRST) Equipment market in the upcoming years. The report identifies opportunities, drivers, and major challenges faced by market players. The research further provides par excellence futuristic estimations for various vital factors including market size, share, net profit, sales, revenue, and growth rate.

NOTE: Our analysts monitoring the situation across the globe explains that the market will generate remunerative prospects for producers post COVID-19 crisis. The report aims to provide an additional illustration of the latest scenario, economic slowdown, and COVID-19 impact on the overall industry.

DOWNLOAD FREE SAMPLE REPORT: https://www.researchstore.biz/sample-request/11949

Market Overview:

Global major manufacturers of the market are also assessed with their information such as company profiles, product picture and specification, capacity, production, price, cost, market trend, revenue, and contact data. The research provides details regarding each product like the cost breakup, import/export scheme, manufacturing volume, price, gross, growth ratio, investments, and contribution to the global Infrared Search and Track (IRST) Equipment revenue. On the basis of dominant ingredients including manufacturing revenue and quantity (volume), the size of the worldwide market is measured in this report. The limitations and strong points of the well-known players are demonstrated in the report.

The market competition by top manufacturers/players, with sales volume, price (USD/Unit), revenue (Million USD) and market share for each manufacturer/player; the top players including market: Lockheed Martin Corporation, Rheinmetall AG., Rheinmetall AG., Thales Group, HGH Systemes Infrarouges SAS, Safran S.A., The Boeing Company, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Leonardo S.p.A., Aselsan A.S

Regional Analysis:

This section of the report contains detailed information on the market in different regions. Each region offers a different market size because each state has different government policies and other factors. The regions included in the report are North America (United States, Canada and Mexico), Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia and Australia), South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia), Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa). Information about the different regions helps the reader to better understand the global Infrared Search and Track (IRST) Equipment market.

Most important types of the market covered in this report are: Airborne, Naval, Land,

Most widely used downstream fields of market covered in this report are: Defense, Civil,

Moreover, the report covers type segment, industry segment, channel segment, as well as historical revenue and deals volume is displayed. The type segment contains all the necessary information about the different forms and their scope in the global Infrared Search and Track (IRST) Equipment market while the application segment defines the uses of the product. The focus of the report on the consumer goods aspect helps in explaining changing consumers.

ACCESS FULL REPORT: https://www.researchstore.biz/report/global-infrared-search-and-track-irst-equipment-market-11949

The Questions Answered By Market Report:

Customization of the Report:This report can be customized to meet the clients requirements. Please connect with our sales team (sales@researchstore.biz), who will ensure that you get a report that suits your needs. You can also get in touch with our executives on +1-201-465-4211 to share your research requirements.

About Us

Researchstore.biz is a fully dedicated global market research agency providing thorough quantitative and qualitative analysis of extensive market research.Our corporate is identified by recognition and enthusiasm for what it offers, which unites its staff across the world.We are desired market researchers proving a reliable source of extensive market analysis on which readers can rely on. Our research team consist of some of the best market researchers, sector and analysis executives in the nation, because of which Researchstore.biz is considered as one of the most vigorous market research enterprises. Researchstore.biz finds perfect solutions according to the requirements of research with considerations of content and methods. Unique and out of the box technologies, techniques and solutions are implemented all through the research reports.

Contact UsMark StoneHead of Business DevelopmentPhone: +1-201-465-4211Email: sales@researchstore.bizWeb: http://www.researchstore.biz

See the original post:
Global Infrared Search and Track (IRST) Equipment Market 2020 Perspective with Study of Leading Players and Revenue to Significant Growth Forecast by...

Read More..

BOULDER From Anthony Franco and mcSquares to Dustin Finkel and Ka-Pop! Snacks, ABCs Shark Tank has teamed with companies with Colorado connections for years. The Colorado-Shark Tank connection got even stronger Thursday evening when television investor and The Corcoran Group founder Barbara Corcoran played host to Boulder-based startup accelerator Boomtowns virtual demo day.

Its great not being a shark here judging today; instead were here celebrating these companies and entrepreneurs, Corcoran said, calling Boulder a startup hotspot.

The demo day, Boomtowns 13th and typically held live at the Boulder Theater, featured videos from the founders of a dozen startups pitching their firms to investors and receiving feedback from judges. The judges were Scott Caruso, director of strategic ventures with CableLabs; Margot Drees, former Global Healthcare Exchange LLC vice president of global marketing; Thriv3 LLC president Sarah Irizarry; and leadership coach Dan Willis.

For the first three weeks of the accelerator program, founders met in person in Boulder. But when the COVID-19 outbreak began spreading, Boomtown went virtual.

Its always hard to start a company, but doing it in the context of a pandemic is even harder, Willis said.

The cohort members, described below using language provided by Boomtown, were:

Entrepreneurs today must know how to lead in a crisis, Boomtown CEO Toby Krout said. Innovative thinking must empower humanity and our startups have risen to the challenge. The experience they gained over these past few months included powerful, valuable lessons that will serve them for the rest of their careers.

2020 BizWest Media LLC

Read the original here:
Boulder-based Boomtown goes virtual with help from Shark Tank star - Longmont Times-Call

Read More..

Millions of people have recently lost their jobs and health insurance benefits because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The result is that many struggling with anxiety, depression, and insomnia cannot afford psychotherapy, medications, or other treatments. The economic fallout of the pandemic may continue for years resulting in prolonged unemployment and an increasing percentage of the population with untreated serious mental health problems.

Politicians and state legislatures are debating on how to fill the gap in health care that is a direct result of the pandemic and programs that will provide adequate mental health care for growing numbers of uninsured may take months or longer to implement. The result will be that many peoplein the US and other countrieswho would receive conventional treatments such as psychotherapy and medications for mental health problems during normal times will not be able to afford treatment, their symptoms may become worse, affecting overall quality of life, relationships, and academic and work performance.

Even when conventional treatment is unavailable or unaffordable for millions of individuals who are struggling with depressed mood, anxiety and insomnia, simple lifestyle choices can make a significant difference. This article is offered as a concise review of the mental health benefits of changes in diet, physical activity, and a regular mindfulness or mind-body practice for depressed mood, anxiety, and insomnia.

DietThe relationship between diet and risk of developing depressed mood is multifactorial. Findings from epidemiologic studies suggest that individuals who consume whole foods (as opposed to processed foods and fast food diets) are at reduced risk for depression. For example, individuals who closely adhere to a Mediterranean diet, as well as traditional diets in Norway, Japan, and China, which are rich in vegetables and fish, have a 30% lower risk for depressed mood than those with the lowest rate of adherence to a Mediterranean diet.

A systematic review identified 12 essential nutrients that met criteria for antidepressant efficacy: folate, iron, long-chain omega-3 fatty acids (EPA, DHA), magnesium, potassium, selenium, thiamine, vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin C, and zinc.1 Foods with the highest antidepressant food scores (AFS) included oysters and mussels as well as other seafood, organ meats, leafy greens, lettuces, peppers, and cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, and Brussels sprouts.

Deficiencies of select nutrients are associated with increased risk of depressed mood, including certain B vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, zinc, and magnesium. The B vitamins function as enzyme co-factors that facilitate the synthesis of neurotransmitters implicated in mood regulation such as serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. Foods rich in B-vitamins especially folate, pyridoxine (B-6), and methyl-cobalamin (B-12) may be especially effective against depressed mood. These include whole grains and dark green leafy vegetables. Omega-3s and some B vitamins also have general anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective benefits in the body and brain, which may contribute to their antidepressant effects. Zinc, magnesium and omega-3 fatty acids promote increased synthesis of brain-derived neurotropic factor, which enhances neuroplasticity, resulting in greater resilience of the brain in the face of chronic stress. Increased neuroplasticity may also reduce risk of depressed mood.

In a 12-week single-blind controlled trial 67 individuals with depressed mood symptoms ranging from mild to severe were randomized to a diet support group versus a social support group.2 Individuals in the diet support group received seven individual one-hour sessions and were encouraged to follow diets rich in whole grains, vegetables, fruits, legumes, and low-fat dairy foods. They ate more raw unsalted nuts, fish, lean red meats, eggs, and olive oil while reducing intake of sweets, refined cereals, fried foods, processed foods, and sugary drinks. Individuals in the social support group received the same number of sessions, during which they discussed neutral topics of interest, but did not receive psychotherapy, lifestyle advice, or other interventions. At study end, individuals in the diet support group demonstrated significantly greater improvement in depressed mood scores based on standardized outcome measures compared with those in the social support group.

Dietary preferences also play important roles in anxiety. Generalized anxiety is often associated with reactive hypoglycemia, in which blood sugar drops to an abnormally low level following a meal or drink that contains a large amount of sugar resulting in acute anxiety symptoms that can mimic a panic attack. Research findings indicate that individuals who experience heightened anxiety related to reactive hypoglycemia benefit from simple dietary changes including reducing refined sugar and carbohydrate intake, increasing protein intake, and reducing or eliminating caffeine or alcohol.3

Caffeine use is also associated with an increased risk of anxiety. Caffeine consumption increases the levels of epinephrine, norepinephrine, and cortisol in the blood, resulting in feelings of nervousness in adults who have no mental health history, feelings of increased generalized anxiety, and in some cases, panic attacks in individuals who are predisposed to anxiety or panic. Many individuals with chronic generalized anxiety report a significant reduction in the severity of anxiety symptoms when they abstain from caffeine. Chronic alcohol abuse can also manifest as hypoglycemia and malnutrition resulting in generalized anxiety and depressed mood.

Finally, on a general level, the microbiomewhich consists of microorganisms that naturally populate the large and small intestinesmay contribute to both physical and mental health through a variety of mechanisms, including beneficial changes in CNS levels of serotonin and other neurotransmitters implicated in mood regulation. The general health of the digestive system modulates immune functioning and brain activity through the microbiome-gut-brain axis. Recent research findings point to a link between imbalances in bowel microflora, increased inflammation of the mucosal lining of the intestines, and systemic immune dysregulation resulting in increased risk of depressed mood.4

ExerciseFindings from animal and human studies suggest that both the immediate and long-term beneficial effects of exercise on mood are mediated by multiple factors that increase brain levels of mood-elevating endorphins, dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin, promote neurogenesis, reduce oxidative stress, and enhance immune functioning.5 Moreover, regular exercise may promote increased neuroplasticity in certain brain regions, resulting in improved mood.6

Regular exercise including aerobic and non-aerobic strengthening exercise has mood-enhancing effects. Individuals who are less sedentary have a reduced risk of both depressed mood and cardiovascular disease.7 Regular aerobic exercise may also improve cognitive functioning in chronically depressed individuals who often experience difficulties with thinking and memory.8 The results from a meta-analysis of controlled studies (N = 977) of exercise used as a single intervention or in combination with antidepressants support that regular exercise has consistent beneficial effects on depressed mood.9 A systematic review of studies on exercise as an add-on therapy in individuals with MDD showed that depressed individuals who exercise regularly respond consistently better than individuals who take an antidepressant but do not exercise.10

Following a regular exercise program while taking an antidepressant and doing cognitive therapy was found to improve treatment response.11 Moderately depressed individuals who exercise in addition to receiving regular CBT are less depressed and report fewer suicidal thoughts compared with individuals engaged in CBT only.12 Antidepressants and exercise probably have equivalent effects on moderate depressed mood.13 The therapeutic benefits of regular exercise may also be comparable to select complementary and alternative (CAM) treatments of depressed mood such as St Johns Wort (Hypericum perforatum).14

Findings of open studies suggest that both aerobic exercise and strength training improve anxiety when done on a regular basis.15 The beneficial effects of exercise on anxiety are similar to those of meditation and regular relaxation. A workout program consisting of at least 20 to 30 minutes of daily exercise can significantly reduce symptoms of generalized anxiety. Findings of a prospective 10-week study of exercise in individuals prone to panic attacks support that regular walking or jogging (4 miles three times a week) reduces the severity and frequency of panic attacks.16

In addition to its mood enhancing and anxiety reducing effects, regular exercise enhances self-sufficiency and ensures positive social interactions with other people. Regular exercise has also been shown to improve sleep quality in depressed individuals who do not respond to antidepressants.17 This may be a significant benefit of exercise for general resilience and day-to-day functioning in view of the high prevalence of insomnia in patients who are chronically depressed.

Relaxation, mindfulness, and mind-body practicesRelaxation techniques include sustained deep breathing, listening to calming music, and progressive muscle relaxation. Examples of mindfulness training include different styles of meditation and guided imagery. Mind-body practices involve both body and mind and include taijiquan, qigong, yoga, and other approaches that involve both the mind and the body. Improved capacity for focused attention and reflection have been proposed as important nonspecific psychological benefits of meditation and mind-body practices. The regular practice of meditation or mind-body techniques such as yoga and taijiquan, may be as effective as CBT or antidepressants for moderately severe depressed mood.

Simple relaxation techniques and mind-body practices also have beneficial effects on insomnia. Mind-body approaches that have been looked at in controlled trials of insomnia include progressive muscle relaxation, massage, meditation, desensitization, guided imagery, autogenic training, and hypnosis. Progressive muscle relaxation and sustained deep breathing are especially effective at reducing sleep latency in individuals with chronic insomnia. Listening to relaxing music soon before bedtime can help individuals with insomnia fall asleep quicker. Many individuals who have problems falling asleep because of chronic worrying report improved sleep with guided imagery.

Meditation and guided imagery are probably more effective than progressive muscle relaxation for situational insomnia but are of little benefit for severe insomnia. Individuals with chronic insomnia who use a cognitive-behavioral technique alone or in combination with a benzodiazepine or other sedative-hypnotic drug report that non-pharmacologic or combined approaches are more effective than medications alone. Improved sleep is sustained longer in individuals who use non-pharmacologic or integrative approaches compared with those who take sleep aids only.18 A meta-analysis found that non-pharmacologic treatments of chronic insomnia are initially more expensive and require more time compared with medication management but lead to sustained benefits and are more cost-effective than drugs alone in the long run.19

Supportive relationshipsFinally, I want to emphasize the importance of relationships. In addition to engaging in healthy lifestyle choices, supportive relationships with friends and family members can provide important buffers to day to day stresses and uncertainties that we will continue to face in these uncertain times. Video calls or phone calls can be very heartening and encouraging even when shelter-in-place orders restrict us from direct contact with family and loved ones.

References:

1. LaChance LR, Ramsey D. Antidepressant foods: an evidence-based nutrient profiling system for depression. World J Psychiatry. 2018;8:97-104.2. Jacka FN, ONeil A, Opie R, et al. A randomised controlled trial of dietary improvement for adults with major depression (the SMILES trial). BMC Med. 2017;151:23.3. Salzer HM. Relative hypoglycemia as a cause of neuropsychiatric illness. J Natl Med Assoc. 1966;58:12-17.4. Cheng LH, Liu YW, Wu CC, et al. Psychobiotics in mental health, neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders. J Food Drug Anal. 2019;27:632648.5. Schuch FB, Deslandes AC, Stubbs B, et al. Neurobiological effects of exercise on major depressive disorder: a systematic review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2016;61:111.6. Gourgouvelis J, Yielder P, Murphy B. Exercise promotes neuroplasticity in both healthy and depressed brains: an fMRI pilot study. Neural Plast. 2017;2017:8305287.7. Schuch F, Vancampfort D, Firth J, et al. Physical activity and sedentary behavior in people with major depressive disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Affect Disord. 2017;210:139150.8. Oertel-Knchel V, Mehler P, Thiel C, et al. Effects of aerobic exercise on cognitive performance and individual psychopathology in depressive and schizophrenia patients. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2014;264:589604.9. Kvam S, Kleppe CL, Nordhus IH, Hovland A. Exercise as a treatment for depression: a meta-analysis. J Affect Disord. 2016;202:6786.10. Mura G, Moro MF, Patten SB, Carta MG. Exercise as an add-on strategy for the treatment of major depressive disorder: a systematic review. CNS Spectr. 2014;19:496508.11. Gourgouvelis J, Yielder P, Clarke ST, et al. Exercise leads to better clinical outcomes in those receiving medication plus cognitive behavioral therapy for major depressive disorder. Front Psychiatry. 2018;9:37.12. Abdollahi A, LeBouthillier DM, Najafi M, et al. Effect of exercise augmentation of cognitive behavioural therapy for the treatment of suicidal ideation and depression. J Affect Disord. 2017;219:5863.13. Blumenthal JA, Babyak MA, Doraiswamy PM, et al. Exercise and pharmacotherapy in the treatment of major depressive disorder. Psychosom Med. 2007;69:587596.14. Ernst E, Rand JI, Stevinson C. Complementary therapies for depression: an overview. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1998;55:10261032.15. Paluska SA, Schwenk TL. Physical activity and mental health: current concepts. Sports Med. 2000;29:167180.16. Stevinson, C. Exercise may help treat panic disorder. Focus Alt Comp Ther. 1999;4:84-85.17. Rethorst CD, Sunderajan P, Greer TL, et al. Does exercise improve self-reported sleep quality in non-remitted major depressive disorder? Psychol Med. 2013;43:699709.18. Morin CM, Colecchi C, Stone J, et al. Behavioral and pharmacological therapies for late-life insomnia: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 1999;281:991999.19. Morin CM, Culbert JP, Schwartz SM. Nonpharmacological interventions for insomnia: a meta-analysis of treatment efficacy. Am J Psychiatry. 1994;151:11721180.

Read the original here:
Self-Care for Mental Health Problems in the Time of Covid-19 - Psychiatric Times

Read More..

These St. Louis organizations and programs focus on providing exercises and activities for people of all abilities. Becausesomeof the organizations'events have been canceled or postponed to help prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, many are offering virtual programs.

Disabled Athlete Sports Association Adaptive Training Program:From its home at The Ability Gym, the AT program offers specially designed training for people with disabilities. Exercise physiologists specializing in training clients with disabilities offer instruction in strength, flexibility, stability, speed, and more. In keeping with COVID-19 stay-at-home orders, the program offers one-on-one training by way of Zoom or Skype and shares exercise videos on social media.

Ride On St. Louis:Therapy, adaptive riding, and social interaction are just a few of the services the two- and four-legged team members provide clients with physical, cognitive, and emotional disabilities. Riding can help strengthen muscle and improve coordination and balance, and simply being around emotionally intelligent horses can help clients work through challenges.

The Health and Wellness Center at Paraquad:The Health and Wellness Center is staffed with physical and occupational therapists to guide people with disabilities through exercise. The gym features more than 40 accessible equipment options, many specifically designed for people with mobility impairments. Theres also a mobility skills course on which people can train with their assistive technology. The centers social isolationfriendly training consists of an online video series for home exercise, with topics ranging from chair cardio to strength training.

The Bees Knees Yoga:Since opening, in August 2019, the studio has offered accessible, inclusive, and trauma-informed yoga instruction. Its most popular classes are a weekly donation-supported LGBTQIA+ community class and a monthly restorative guided meditation class. Studio owner Nichole DiGiuseppi says yoga is more spiritual than it is physical and that everyone can do it, which is why she hosts a Yoga for All Bodies class. Every class offers different versions of poses so students of all abilities can participate. After closing during the novel coronavirus pandemic, the studio shifted to online classes to reach students anywhere.

Cycle St. Louis:Through partnerships with such organizations as Big Shark Bicycle Company, St. Louis Arc, and Special Olympics Missouri, Cycle St. Louis provides training and accessible rides and helps people with disabilities use adapted bicycles. The goal is to enrich the lives of disabled people, help them gain confidence, and, most importantly, help them have fun. At press time, the studio had temporarily halted its inclusive rides.

Original post:
These St. Louis organizations offer exercise for people of all abilities - stlmag.com

Read More..

For many businesses, digital transformation has been somewhere on a long list of priorities for quite some time. It was important but somehow got easily buried under the urgency of today.

Maybe, we told ourselves, we would move on it after the seasonal rush or, even better, research what our competitors were doing. That seemed to work until the day our customers needed to interact with businesses almost solely online. This was the moment when digital operations became less a matter of efficiency and more one of survival.

Until The Day Things Changed Forever

Some early adopters have taken this change in stride. These businesses already had cloud-based business operations, a robust online customer experience and mature global supply chains that could manage the seismic switch from online browsing to online everything.

Many creative businesses managed quick turns to online consultancies or a mix of online operations and one-touch interactions such as curbside pickup. The most successful quickly transformed traditional in-person services (such as going to the gym or shopping for new clothes) into app-based platforms that consumers could easily access from their homes. Continued access to these services gives people a way to maintain some sense of normalcy in their day-to-day lives.

Were Not Going Back

Sheltering in place and social distancing will create fundamental changes in the way we interact and do business in the future. Even after the current pandemic is officially over, some changes will be here to stay.

Now, digital transformation is essential to a companys survival. Going forward, companies will need to meet their customers wherever they are. As McKinseys Kevin Sneader recently pointed out, this is likely to reshape the economy as well. Questions over a companys resiliency and ability to quickly pivot despite social upheaval, and the digitization of services will be critical to how we determine a businesss economic success and risk.

Thats why were not going back to the normal we had before.

Tomorrows Business Model And The One After That

While digital transformation may no longer be optional, it does not necessitate abandoning an entire business model or a brand that customers like and trust. Rather, this is the time to employ creative technology solutions that allow us to connect with (and delight) our customers on the digital channels they rely on now.

Banks are a good example of this. To meet the immediate emergency, almost overnight, banks closed most branch operations, moved to drive-through transactions and beefed up their digital banking operations. Now the agile ones are taking steps to further promote mobile check deposits, balance transfers, peer-to-peer payments and online customer support. Even the opening of entirely new accounts can now be safely and securely handled through apps and websites.

In an emergency including the type of convulsive economic transformation were experiencing now many major companies have the digital infrastructure to create an online offering that customers can trust. The next challenge is to build resilient companies that can thrive long term in this new digital-first world.

Staying True To Your Purpose

Say your company runs a chain of gym facilities. Your mission is still to help people improve their health, but now you have to rethink how you fulfill that purpose. Pivoting to an online approach to provide online fitness training or at-home exercise programs offers value for customers while providing a new, viable business model for the digital economy.

Transformation will look different for every company, but successful efforts must enhance an organizations core purpose. Medical practices will likely expand their telehealth consultations even further. Retailers may roll out digital dressing rooms to engage customers online. Almost all retailers will likely have to beef up their online purchasing systems.

To succeed, successful companies across our global economy will develop their own new ways to meet customers where they are and increase accessibility for everyone.

Dont Forget Security

While most innovations will contribute to a companys final product in some way, not all need to be customer-facing. Digital transformation that sets up a company for long-term success will also include organizational or behind-the-scenes changes that ensure an offering is reliable and secure.

With more consumers transacting online than ever before, companies and their customers face a greater risk from fraudsters looking to steal account information, credit card details and more. In fact, theres already been a marked increase in scams related to the coronavirus specifically. Now is the time for businesses to invest in back-end security tools, as well as customer-facing identity verification measures, to prevent users from falling victim to fraud. These security layers provide peace of mind by ensuring consumers true identities online.

Across the world, people have faced unprecedented changes almost overnight. Some of the changes will be temporary, but many will form our new normal for years to come. We have seen the human spirit rise to the challenge, even in the face of this upheaval, and I am confident that companies that fully embrace digital transformation will thrive in this new era.

Go here to read the rest:
The Day Digital Transformation Became Mandatory - Forbes

Read More..

SOURCE: Army Multi-Domain Operations Concept, December 2018.

WASHINGTON: Damn the pandemic, full speed ahead. The four-star chief of Army Futures Command plans to hold a high-tech field test in the southwest desert this fall, COVID-19 or no.

Called Project Convergence, the exercise will test sharing of targeting data amongst the Armys newest weapons, including aerial scouts, long-range missile launchers and armored vehicles. The Army also wants to plug in its new anti-aircraft and missile defense systems, AFC head Gen. Mike Murray told reporters, but those technologies are at a critical juncture in their own individual test programs some of which was delayed by COVID and they may not be ready on time for this fall.

Gen. John Mike Murray

Im going to try to drag them all into this, Murray said. The experiment, set to begin in late August or early September, will definitely include the Armys Artificial Intelligence Task Force, as well as four of its eight modernization Cross Functional Teams. Thats Long-Range Precision Fires (i.e. artillery), Future Vertical Lift aircraft (including drones), and the tactical network, he said, plus the Next Generation Combat Vehicle team in a supporting role.

What about the Air & Missile Defense team? Well see, Murray said. Right now Im very cautious, because of the two major tests theyve got going on this fall in terms of IBCS and IMSHORAD. IBCS is the Armys new command network for air and missile defense units, which had to delay a major field test due to COVID. IMSHORAD is an 88 Stryker armored vehicle fitted with anti-aircraft missiles and guns, which Murray said is now delayed a few months by software problems.

The IM-SHORAD prototype anti-aircraft Stryker test-fires a Hellfire missile in February, 2020.

Meanwhile, the Air Force with some input from the other services will be testing its own nascent data-sharing network. Thats the ambitious Advanced Battle Management System, the leading candidate to be the backbone of a future Joint All-Domain Command & Control (JADC2) network-of-networks linking all the armed services.

The Air Forces ABMS experiment will be separate from the Armys Project Convergence exercise happening at roughly the same time this fall, Murray said. But he wants to hold a Convergence test each year from now on, he told reporters, and he wants to bring in ABMS in 2021.

In 20, were parallel, not interconnected, he said. Our desire is to bring them closer and closer together, beginning in 21.

Bruce Jette

Sensor To Shooter

Murray spoke via phone to the Defense Writers Group, along with the Armys civilian chief of acquisition, Bruce Jette. While the two mens roles and organizations are kept distinct by law, theyve been joined at the hip on modernization, and Jette a scientist, engineer, and inventor is clearly enthused about the experiment.

We are looking at the potential integration of all of our fires into a fires network, Jette told the listening reporters. Currently, he explained, the Army has one network, AFATDS, to pass data about ground targets to its offensive artillery units howitzers, rocket launchers, surface-to-surface missiles. Meanwhile, its developing a different network, IBCS, to share data on flying targets incoming enemy rockets, missiles, and aircraft amongst its air and missile defense units.

The two networks and the sensors that feed them must meet very different technical demands, since shooting down a missile requires split-second precision that bombarding a tank battalion does not. But theres also great potential for the two to share data and work together. For example, the defensive side can figure out where enemy missiles are launching from, then tell the offensive side so it can blow up the enemy launchers before they fire again.

If I can bring the two of them together, Jette said, you can use a sensor the Army already developed, bought and fielded to spot targets for one weapon say, the Q-53 artillery radar to feed targeting data into a totally different type of weapon say, a Patriot battery. Artificial intelligence could pull together data from multiple sensors, each seeing the same target in different wavelengths or from a different angle, to build a composite picture more precise than its parts.

Were moving past just simple concepts of sensors and shooters, Jette said. How do we get multiple sensors and shooters [integrated] such that we get more out of them than an individual item could provide?

Looking across the Armys 34 top modernization programs, Murray said, an individual capability is interesting, but the effect is greater than the sum of the parts. There have to be connections between these [programs]. And thats really the secret sauce Im not going to explain in detail, ever.

The XM1299 Extended Range Cannon Artillery (ERCA) howitzer in an earlier test shot last year.

Testing, Testing

What Murray would share, however, was that the Army got to test a slightly less ambitious sensor-to-shooter link in Europe earlier this year, as part of NATOs Defender 2020 wargames. The field experiment fed data from a wide range of sources in space, in the air, and on the ground to an Army howitzer unit, he said.

However, the Army had also wanted to experiment with new headquarters and organizations to command and control ultra-long-range artillery, Murray said, and those aspects of the massive exercise had to be cancelled due to COVID. The service is looking at alternative venues, such as its Combat Training Centers, but its just hard to replicate what Defender 2020 offered us, he said. What we lost was the largest exercise weve done and the largest deployment of forces in a very, very long time.

That makes the stakes even higher for Project Convergence. You can call it an experiment, you can call it a demonstration, Murray said. Right now, the plan is were going to do this every year every fall as we continue to mature this architecture that brings the sensors to the right shooter and through the right headquarters.

ABMS construct

While this years Convergence exercise will focus on the Army, Murray is already working with the Air Force to meld the two next year. We have been in discussion with the Air Force for the better part of the year on how we integrate with the effort they have going on, he said. I was actually out at Nellis the last time they had a live meeting on JADC2 [Joint All-Domain Command & Control] with all of the architects of ABMS.

Those discussions made very clear to both the Army and the Air Force participants that it all comes down to data and it all comes down to the architectures you build, Murray said.

As Bruce [Jette] talked about, its not a specific sensor to a specific shooter, he said. On a future battlefield just about everything is going to be a sensor. So how you do you store that data and how do you enable a smart distribution of data to the right shooter? Because we cant build architectures that are relying upon huge pipes and just massive bandwidth to make it work.

Read the original post:
Army Invites Air Force ABMS To Big Network Test: Project Convergence - Breaking Defense

Read More..

Theres no shortage of theories about overtraining syndrome, a state of pervasive fatigue and poor performance that lasts months or years and sometimes ends athletic careers. In fact, there are too many theories. Its psychological, its neurological, its adrenal, its hormonal, its immunological, its cardiovascularit seems to affect pretty much every system in the body, which makes it hard to pinpoint the cause.

A new paper from a group led by Johanna Lanner of the Karolinska Institute in Sweden presents the case for a seemingly obvious culprit: the muscles themselves. Writing in the journal Redox Biology, they explore four main theories for what might go wrong within your muscles after a prolonged period of heavy training that could lead to long-term changes like those seen in overtraining syndrome. If theyre right, it suggests some possible countermeasures against overtrainingbut thats a big if.

From the muscles perspective, training is a constant cycle of stress and recovery. A hard workout causes all sorts of metabolic and structural disruptions in your muscle fibers, which in turn trigger adaptations that occur during the recovery period and make you stronger and fitter. These perturbations are good when theyre temporary, but if they become chronicfor example because youre not recovering enough between workoutsthen they make you weaker and more fatigued.

Its not just your maximum strength thats affected; even relatively light submaximal exercise like a jog feels harder. This effect can last for days or even weeks after a single killer workout, an effect known as prolonged low-frequency force depression, or PLFFD. Intriguingly, studies with single muscle fibers from rodents also exhibit PLFFD. These muscle fibers obviously arent depressed or hormonally imbalancedthere must be some sort of prolonged disruption within the muscle fiber itself. Since overtraining in some ways looks like a chronic version of PLFFD that wont switch off, Lanner and her colleagues suggest that overtraining, too, may involve problems in the muscle.

Here are the four leading muscle-related explanations of overtraining they consider:

This one is pretty straightforward: maybe chronic depletion of glycogen, the form in which muscle fibers store carbohydrate, interferes with the ability of those fibers to generate force and ultimately leads to what we experience as overtraining. It almost seems too simple, but its actually quite plausible that athletes who are training at truly extreme levelsi.e. those most vulnerable to overtraining syndromehave trouble keeping up with their bodies fuel needs. Thats what a study on ketone drinks suggested last year: the apparent ability of these drinks to ward off overtraining was linked to increased calorie intake.

Lanner and her colleagues arent convinced, though. They point out that a study in rats failed to prevent overtraining despite aggressive carbohydrate supplementation. Not getting enough carbohydrate may contribute to overtraining, but getting enough, on its own, doesnt seem to prevent it.

This is the classic explanation for next-day soreness: a hard workout, especially something like downhill running or box jumps that involves a lot of eccentric contractions, causes little microtears and other physical damage to your muscle fibers. Normally this damage gets repaired and ultimately leaves you strongerunless the balance between damage and repair is chronically tilted too far toward the former.

Not so fast, though. While the link between damaged muscle fibers and weaker muscles seems intuitively obvious, studies dont seem to find a good correlation between the amount of visible damage and the decline in function, according to Lanner and her colleagues. The damage is there, but it doesnt seem to directly cause the problems.

This may sound a little familiar from all the recent discussion of cytokine storms in COVID-19. A similar idea applies here: a limited amount of inflammation (which is induced by small proteins called cytokines) is a normal part of both immune responses and post-exercise muscle repair, but too much can inflict further damage. After repeated strenuous exercise with insufficient recovery, you can end up with chronically elevated cytokine levels and inflammation, which in turn interferes with muscle function.

Furthermore, this inflammatory response could start a vicious cycle: cytokines also lead to an increase in oxidative stress, which in turn triggers the release of more inflammation-promoting cytokines, which increases oxidative stress, and so onwhich brings us to the heart of Lanners argument.

Theres a reason this paper was published in Redox Biology, which is a rather specialized journal. Even though the authors present four theories, their main interest is in the idea that oxidative stressthe excessive presence of damaging molecules called reactive oxygen speciesis a key driver of decreased muscle function in overtraining syndrome.

Its true, according to at least somestudies, that overtrained athletes display elevated levels of oxidative stress. You might think that theres a simple solution to this: take antioxidant supplements, which neutralize reactive oxygen species. But it turns out that the role of oxidative stress in the body is fiendishly complicated. Like inflammation, oxidative stress also serves as a key signal telling your body to adapt and get fitter after exercise, so eliminating it can have negative effects. While the topic is still being debated among researchers, theres considerable evidence that regular use of antioxidant supplements can blunt the gains youd normally get from a training program.

Typically, rested muscle stays in a slightly reduced state. Thats the opposite of being oxidized, meaning it has gained rather than lost electrons. When you start exercising, that generates oxidative stress, which actually puts your muscle into an optimal balance between reduction and oxidation, maximizing the amount of force you can generate. But if you exercise too hard or too long, the amount of oxidation becomes too much and muscle performance decreases again.

Lanner and her colleagues provide a schematic diagram to illustrate this delicate balance between reduced and oxidized muscles:

(Photo: Courtesy Redox Biology)

Normally, youre sitting slightly to the left on this diagram, at Rested muscle. If you start exercising, you move to the middle, at Optimal exercise redox balance. If you push too hard, you keep moving to the right, to Exercise-induced fatigue. Allow yourself to recover, then everything will be finebut if you keep pushing, youll end up on the far right, at Chronic disease and Overtraining.

If you start popping a daily dose of vitamin C or other antioxidants, you move left on the curve. Under normal circumstances, you end up on the far left, at Rested muscle + Antioxidants. Thats not ideal, because then you cant get to that optimal balance in the middle during workouts, which is why routine use of antioxidants isnt a good idea for athletes. But if youre on the border of overtraining, the risks and benefits may be different.

Lanner and her colleagues acknowledge the risks associated with supplementation, but suggest that if an athlete on the edge of overtraining syndrome is in a state of chronically elevated oxidative stressthe kind of thing you see in rheumatoid arthritis and Duchenne muscle dystrophythen antioxidants may help. The same thing may apply to anti-inflammatory drugs: a bad idea under normal circumstances, but possibly helpful in the face of chronic inflammation.

Key caveat? Of the 122 references cited in the article, a majority seem to involve rats. Thats an important and useful way to figure out how muscle fibers work, but any real advice about how athletes should train needs to be based on studies of athletes training. Still, I think the focus on whats happening in the muscles is an interesting and perhaps underappreciated aspect of overtraining. And the idea that antioxidants are a bad idea on a routine basis but useful in times of unusually high stressa training camp, a trip to altitudehas been floating around among elite athletes for a while.

For now, though, I think the most important weapon to keep in mind is the one Lanner and her colleagues mention at the start of their section on prevention and treatment: carefully planned training programs that include regular monitoring by coaches and the athletes themselves to assess adaptation to training over both the short and long term. Put more simply: if youre really, really tired and seem to be getting slower, take a break rather than a pill.

For more Sweat Science, join me on Twitter and Facebook, sign up for the email newsletter, and check out my book Endure: Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance.

When you buy something using the retail links in our stories, we may earn a small commission. Outside does not accept money for editorial gear reviews. Read more about our policy.

You are now subscribed to BodyworkWe will not share your email with anyone for any reason.Find more newsletters on our newsletter sign-up page.

Get stronger. Get smarter. Get Outside's health newsletter twice a week.

Go here to see the original:
4 Theories About Overtraining - Outside

Read More..

From Men's Health

While the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has halted the cadence of everyday life for just about everyone, the world is now beginning to adjust. We're all handling the challenges of social distancing and self-isolation differentlybut that doesn't mean that we have to go it completely alone in every sense.

At Men's Health, we're using this period as an opportunity to build up our community and share as much useful, positive information as possible. For everyone stuck missing their typical workout routines with gyms and fitness centers closed down, we've done our best to provide as many at-home workout options as possible. But that's just the start. We're also hosting live workout sessions on Instagram with some of our favorite trainers to fill the fitness class-shaped void in your daily routine.

Sean Garner, the creator of the Men's Health 6-Week Sweat Off program for the All Out Studio streaming fitness platform, hosted another live home workout session at home.

This conditioning routine challenges you to work through three speed sets, which are all composed of three exercises each. The setup is simple: Set a timer for 2 minutes, then rip through the series for as many rounds as possible (AMRAP) during the period. Rest for 30 seconds, then move on to the next speed set.

Most of these exercises are designed to be completed using only your bodyweight, and Garner demos the workout without a single implement. For those exercises that do typically use a weight, like the Turkish getups, you can use whatever you have on hand at home.

Perform 2 to 5 rounds of the whole series

Perform as many rounds as possible in 2 minutes

Rest for 30 seconds

Perform as many rounds as possible in 2 minutes

Rest for 30 seconds

Perform as many rounds as possible in 2 minutes

Rest for 30 seconds

Photo credit: Men's Health

Want more workouts from Garner? Check out his full 6-Week Sweat Off program on the Men's Health All Out Studio streaming platform.

GET THE WORKOUTS

Stay up to date with our workouts every single weekday at 12 p.m. ET. Want to keep up with the sessions you've missed? Check out the whole collection here.

You Might Also Like

Continued here:
This Speed Set Home Conditioning Workout Will Wear You Out - Yahoo Lifestyle

Read More..

Contact Us Today

Page 1,034«..1020..1,0331,0341,0351,036..1,0401,050..»

Home » Page 1034