Furry friends help improve health

Man’s best friend is becoming the go-to exercise partner for many people. Besides helping their owners slim down and stay fit, dogs can also benefit from a regular exercise routine. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, 25 percent of canines are overweight, and overweight dogs may experience reduced energy, breathing problems, arthritis and other health issues. So what can Fido do for you? Pets provide excellent motivation to head outdoors for a walk or jog. Pets move at your pace, lift your spirits and are delighted to spend one-on-one time with you. A study by Chicago’s Northwestern Memorial Hospital affirmed the power of animals to change lives. Researchers found that overweight people and their dogs were more apt to stick to a balanced diet and exercise routine when they worked as a team. The people who exercised with a furry friend were also more inspired to maintain their slimmed-down shape.

If you and your pet are in good overall health but could improve in the exercise department, start making a change by setting a few goals. This may include taking a 45-minute walk every day and cutting down on sugary sweets for yourself and extra biscuits for Fido. More ideas: Visit a dog park, play fetch or watch exercise videos designed just for dog owners. Be sure to check with your doctor and your pet’s veterinarian before beginning a new exercise routine.

Kicking colds to the curb

Wondering how you can get through cold season with a little less misery? Try these remedies, courtesy of the Mayo Clinic:

• Drink plenty of fluids. Water, juice, clear broth or warm lemon water with honey can help break up the nasty stuff in your chest and prevent dehydration. Skip alcohol, coffee and caffeinated sodas.
• Spoon up some chicken soup. It may have anti-inflammatory and mucus-thinning powers.
• Consider vitamin C. It may not help you prevent a cold, necessarily, but, if taken beforehand, it may help shorten the duration of symptoms when you do get that cold.

Research shows zinc is beneficial for cold symptoms. The tricky part, however, is figuring out in what form to take it, how much to take and for how long, as these factors haven’t been established. (The FDA also warns about not using nasal sprays containing zinc, as it could lead to a loss of smell.) Ask your healthcare provider for advice. The jury is still out on another popular remedy, echinacea. If your immune system is healthy and you’re not taking any medications (over-the-counter or prescription), it’s believed that echinacea is safe to take; however, double-check with your provider.

Women more prone to broken heart syndrome

New research has found that the temporary heart condition that’s triggered by extreme physical or emotional stress—otherwise known as broken heart syndrome—is much more common in women than men. In fact, 7.5 times more common. Among women, those females older than age 55 are 2.9 times more likely to develop the syndrome (which has symptoms that mimic a heart attack) than younger women; those same older women were 9.5 times more likely than men to experience broken heart syndrome.

Experts can’t quite explain the gender difference; of the 6,230 records they looked at showing broken heart syndrome, 89 percent were women. Could it be hormones or differences in the arteries of women compared to men? What they do stress is that it could show a strong connection between the mind and the heart.

Calm the burn of GERD

For those afflicted with gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD (a condition in which stomach acid or, occasionally, bile flows back into your esophagus, irritating the lining), coping with the disease’s symptoms can be a daily battle. What can you do to help calm the burn?

• Quit smoking.
• Avoid fish oil supplements. The oil can be responsible for gastrointestinal side effects.
• Steer clear of peppermint. It has soothing and numbing effects of menthol and can relax the valve that separates the stomach and esophagus. This can cause stomach acids to drift up the esophagus more easily.

If you experience GERD, talk with your doctor about solutions to help you feel better.