Dr. Rippe's Blog

As I went through the wellness center for my daily swim workout recently, I saw a fellow exerciser pedalling away on a stationary cycle. I also noticed that this exerciser had earbud cords dangling, fingers tapping away on a smart phone, and the TV over the handlebars tuned to a news channel. Multi-tasking to the max. Boredom surely kept at bay!

But does this approach actually give you all you need from a workout? Some recent studies suggest that not giving your brain and mind some down time while you exercise your body may not be the best choice for tuning up cognitive functions. Our brains may need some "rest" time to absorb and correlate all the input we give them. I certainly find that my swimming workout gives me time off from the daily job stresses and issues and that my thoughts are often clearer when I finish. 

Whether staying constantly "wired in" is good, not so good, or neutral is still an open question, scientifically speaking. If you'd like to read more about the issue, these two articles from the New York Times summarize the recent studies:

• Your Brain on Computers: Digital Devices Deprive Brain of Needed Downtime, August 24, 2010 
• Your Brain on Computers: Outdoors and Out of Reach, Studying the Brain, August 16, 2010

On vacation, my family and I have enjoyed walking and hiking in beautiful mountain terrain. Walking more than on a usual day reminds me how important well-fitting shoes that are right for what you are doing and foot comfort are to your overall sense of well-being.

I have a colleague who jokes that she'll happily wear a $5 blouse on her back but will spend whatever it takes on shoes to keep her feet comfortable. She even has a corny little saying: happy feet = happy face.

There's a lot in what she says. A recent study by researchers from the Boston University School of Public Health found that ill-fitting footwear is a primary cause of foot pain. And I bet that you can guess that high heels were among the greatest offenders.  That's not surprising because most high heels put pressure on the forefoot (and toes in pointed shoes) and push posture out of the body's natural alignment. When you remember that our feet bear tons of impact weight on any day, it easy to understand why poorly fitting shoes or the wrong shoes for the walking or tasks you have to do can make your feet hurt and worse.

So where am I going with this? I just want to remind you how important your feet are to your overall sense of physical well-being and to encourage you to think about foot health and comfort as you select shoes. Even if women must wear dress heels for work, for instance, it's still possible to pick a shoe that has a lower heel, adequate cushioning, a toe box that does not squeeze the forefoot.

Staying physically active is good for overall health--and happy feet help you stay physically active.

In the past week or so, we've beening experiencing record-breaking heat in the Northeast as temperatures even hit 100 degrees. Extreme heat can pose problems for everyone, but it's particularly difficult and even dangerous for many older people or people with certain health conditions and for young children.  For that reason, I want to remind us all today of some hot weather safety tips.

• Dress in cool clothes. That seems like a no-brainer. But as we get older our bodies have a harder time regulating temperature (that's why some older people may be dressed in sweaters when the rest of us are sweating!). So if you take care of an older family member or friend, check that they are not too warmly dressed.
• Seek air-conditioning if possible. If your home is air-conditioned, that's not a problem. If not, perhaps purchasing a small window unit is affordable. Using fans to circulate air also helps. In hot weather, particularly in cities, many public venues such as libraries, recreation centers, senior centers or special heat shelters offer cool places to stay during the hottest parts of the day.
• Drink plenty of water. Keeping the body properly hydrated is the best defense against heat illness. Water or non-alcoholic drinks will work.
• Stay out of the sun and out of the heat during the hottest hours of the day, usually between about 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• Exercise in the cooler times of the day. That's usually early morning.  Depending on your geographical location, evening may cool down also.  If you can't exercise outdoors at cooler times, then substitute a cooler venue, such as walking at an indoor mall, or skip your routine on the hottest days. 
• Keep pets indoors and give them plenty of water, too.

For more tips, see this helpful info sheet Extreme Heat: a Prevention Guide to Promote Your Personal Health and Safety from the Centers for Disease Control.