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At least half of all heart attack victims suffer from depression 12 months after hospitalisation but a simple exercise regime can benefit them.  A report by Michelle Rogerson of   Victoria University  reveals the link between lack of exercise and higher levels of depression among people with coronary heart disease.   It showed that a self-devised 12-week exercise programme, including a fortnightly check-up, helped reduce depression levels.   "The less physically active people were, the more depressed they felt," Rogerson said. "But by the end of the trial we found all of the depressed participants had increased their exercise levels and felt happier. It was a simple intervention but it had a major psychological effect."   Rogerson said she was surprised by the high levels of depression found among the participants in the study.   "It was quite worrying to find about 65 per cent of participants were at least mildly depressed following a heart event and

You may like to throw your mobile phone after reading this, as a new study has found the average handset carries 18 times more potentially harmful germs than a toilet's flush handle.  An analysis of handsets by British researchers found that almost a quarter of them were so dirty that they had up to 10 times an acceptable level of TVC bacteria.   TVC, or Total Viable Count, gives a quantitative idea about the presence of microorganisms such as bacteria, yeast and mold in a sample.   Elevated levels of TVC indicate poor personal hygiene and act as a breeding ground for other bugs.   One of the phones in the test had such high levels of bacteria that it could have given its owner a serious stomach upset, said the researchers who carried out the study for the 'Which?' magazine.   The findings from a sample of 30 phones suggest that 14.7 million of the 63 million mobiles in use in the UK today could be potential health hazards, they said.   "The levels of poten

A wrong body posture can predispose people towards aches and pain, but it’s never too late to work towards correcting one’s pose and keeping the spine healthy.  Posture is the position in which you hold your body upright against gravity while standing, sitting or laying down. Good posture involves training the body to stand, walk, sit, and lie in positions where the least strain is placed on supporting muscles and ligaments.  University of the Sciences in Philadelphia’s Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy Dr. Greg Thielman has now offered simple exercises and solutions to improve the posture, and keep aches and pains at bay.  "Poor posture can lead to loss of shoulder motion, chronic pain, walking deficits, neck-related headaches, the inability to exercise, and more," said Thielman.  He added: "However, aside from contributing to a good appearance, the long-term benefits of proper posture include helping to decrease abnormal wearing of joint surfaces, lesseni

Stress is in the air, while on the move, we stress over poor road sense of fellow drivers, in office over mounting workload, at parties over surging real estate rates, and round up as impatient listeners at home. But just who is not stressed today?  Experts blame an erratic diet as a predominant cause of stress, which usually spans into snack breaks, tea breaks and more snack breaks. Though we can do better by tweaking our diet chart to include foods that curb stress.   Here is a list of eight foods that’ll do the trick   ...  Yoghurt  : Yoghurt works well especially in summer, as it is light and digests easily. Says Dr Shikha Sharma, doctor and wellness expert, “Yoghurt or any dairy product is rich in tyrosine which increases the serotonin level in the brain.” She simplifies this for us, “Proteins increase neurohormone in the brain which eases stressed nerves and calms you down.” If plain yoghurt bores you, try the ready-to-scoop-up, fruit flavoured version. Strawberry, blackcur

Is your waistline bothering you in middle age? Try regular yoga, says a new study.  The study, led by researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre (FHCRC), is the first of its kind to measure the effects of yoga on weight.  The study involved 15,500 healthy, middle-aged men and women who were asked to complete a written survey recalling their physical activity (including yoga) and weight history between the ages 45 and 55.  The study measured the impact of yoga with weight change, independent of other factors such as diet or other types of physical activity.  The researchers found that between the ages of 45 and 55, most people gained about half a kg a year, which is a common pattern as people age and do not trim calorie intake to their declining energy needs.  "However, men and women who were of normal weight at age 45 and regularly practised yoga gained about three fewer pounds during that 10-year period than those who didn't practise yoga," said FHCR

Is it better to exercise in the morning, or later in the day?  Let your circadian rhythms be your guide. In the afternoon or early evening, your core temperature is warmer. A warm core makes your muscles and joints more supple, which helps you avoid strains and sprains. That makes afternoon or early evening ideal for exercises that tap your muscles, like strength training, stretching, and interval workouts.   Mornings are good too!  On the other hand, if endurance activities are more your type —long brisk walks or bike rides — morning may be better. Your body’s core is cooler early in the day, which can make endurance activities seem less tiring. And there is less risk of overheating. But a good warm-up will be key, since your muscles are likely to be stiffer in the mornings.   No-Sweat Scheduling  Tune up your muscles, lungs, and heart with these well-timed workouts:   Mornings: Get energised. Walk your way to a slimmer you — in your own home!   After-noons: Muscle up your

WASHINGTON: Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis have found a way to significantly reduce atherosclerosis in mice without lowering cholesterol levels or eliminating other obesity-related problems. Atherosclerosis is the process through which fatty substances, such as cholesterol and cellular waste products accumulate in the lining of arteries. Those buildups, called plaques, reduce blood flow through the artery and can contribute to heart attack, stroke and even gangrene. It is common in individuals with obesity-related problems such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.  In the study, researchers inhibited atherosclerosis in mice by interfering with production of a substance called fatty acid synthase. This enzyme converts dietary sugars into fatty acids in the liver, where it plays an important role in energy metabolism. But fatty acids also are involved in atherosclerosis. "The plaques that clog arteries contain large