Overachiever or couch potato? Choose the best workout for your personality..

• Overachiever : You’re so overbooked that when you do squeeze workouts into your Blackberry, you tend to overdo it. Try more frequent workouts at at moderate pace rather than sporadic and intense sessions. Try this programme: one day of lower-body weight training; one day of Pilates and cardio; one day of upper-body weight training; and a yoga class at week’s end to de-stress. (more…)

Self-discipline, a sense of purpose and strong scruples may help prevent Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new report in the Archives of General Psychiatry. Researchers at the Rush University Medical Centre in Chicago studied 997 Catholic nuns and priests over 12 years and found those who ranked highest for conscientiousness, and who consistenly agreed with statements such as, “I am a productive person who always gets the job done,” were 89% less likely to develop Alzheimer’s than those who ranked at the bottom. Conscientiousness is also thought to boost resilience and coping skills. “These factors may lessen negative life events and chronic psychological distress associated with the risk of dementia in old age,” the authors report.

Taken from Medical Update, 2008

Have you ever feel that you couldn’t walk down stairs or bend over, or you couldn’t even kneel down to pray? You are suffering from a condition called osteoarthritis (OA). According to the World Health Organization, more than 42 million people in the West Pacific region are afflicted with OA of the hip or knee. Dr Kevin Yip of the Singapore Sports and Orthopaedic Clinic says osteoarthritis is three times more common that cancer in Singapore. No-one knows for sure what causes OA, but research shows that heredity, excess weight and previous joint injuries are major factors. One study, done in Manchester, England, and published in 2003, found an increased risk for some who regularly walk long distances over rough ground, sit or stand for prolonged periods, or frequently lift heavy objects. (more…)