Isometric Exercises
Isometric exercise means that you push against
something that doesn't move, such as a wall. Thirty years ago,
most weightlifters and athletes is sports requiring strength used
isometric training to make themselves stronger. Athletes don't
use isometric training much anymore. The strength gained
through performing isometric contractions is only within 20
degrees of the angle you hold. On the other hand, when you lift
weights, you become strong through a wide range of motion.
Isometrics cause your blood pressure to rise higher than the
other methods of strength training. If you have weak blood
vessels or heart trouble, you can rupture a blood vessel or
develop an irregular heart beat.
According to Dr. John D. Fair, Chairman of the
Department of History at Auburn University, the popularity of
isometrics was the result of the success of some weightlifters
who took synthetic male hormones called anabolic steroids and
then claimed that their isometric exercises made them strong.
They claimed that they were doing a revolutionary new training
method of pushing against bars that didn't move. The steroids
made them stronger by helping them to recover faster from tough
workouts so they could do more work. The only stimulus to make
a muscle stronger is to exercise that muscle against resistance.
You can lift heavy weights, push against special strength
machines and push against something that doesn't move, such
as a wall or bar attached to the ground. Isometrics are not used
much any more, but the steroids are still used, even though they
are banned by most sport authorities.
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Dear Dr. Mirkin: Is there any evidence that antibiotics are useful
in treating Alzheimer’s disease?
Dr. Mark Loeb, associate professor at McMaster
University in Hamilton, Ontario, presented a study in San Diego
at the meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America that
shows how antibiotics may slow brain damage caused by
Alzheimer’s disease (October 9, 2003). Patients on two
antibiotics, doxycycline and rifampin, for three months had
significantly less loss of mental function than those given
placebos.
Alzheimer’s disease causes progressive loss of mental
function and affects more than 4.5 million North Americans. So
far, the drugs approved by the FDA to treat Alzheimer’s disease
are barely more effective than placebos. Several studies
associate Alzheimer’s disease with infections caused by the
bacteria chlamydia and mycoplasma, but the vast majority of
neurologists do not feel that infection causes Alzheimer’s
disease. The author of this study believes that antibiotics may
prevent plaques from forming in nerves. The trial found that
those in the placebo group lost significantly more intellect than
those on antibiotics.
There is no specific test for Alzheimer’s disease, so
doctors make the diagnosis by eliminating other causes of brain
damage. It is reasonable to prescribe antibiotics to Alzheimer’s
disease patients because today no effective medical treatment
exists. The four FDA-approved Alzheimer's drugs, Cognex,
Aricept, Exelon and Reminyl, slow the rate of brain damage only
a little bit and do not stop progression of brain damage.
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Dear Dr. Mirkin: How can high blood pressure be lowered just by
changing your diet?
Scientists at the National Institutes of Health have shown
why the DASH diet lowers high blood pressure to normal in more
than 80 percent of people with high blood pressure. On the
DASH diet you eat lots of leafy green vegetables that are rich
sources of nitrites, common salts that your bloodstream, can be
converted to nitric oxide which opens blood vessels (Nature
Medicine, December 2003.). This means that nitrites could be a
new treatment for high blood pressure, heart attacks, sickle cell
disease, and blocked arteries leading the heart, brain and legs.
Hemoglobin is the red pigment in red blood cells that carries
oxygen in your bloodstream. When hemoglobin releases
oxygen, it converts nitrites to nitric oxide, to widen blood vessels.
Blood nitrite levels are low in patients with high blood pressure.
However, at high concentrations nitrites are toxic, so you
must take limited amounts. Leafy greens are rich sources of
safe amounts of nitrites. The nitrites go into the bloodstream,
where exposure to oxygen converts nitrites to nitrous oxide which
dilates arteries and lowers high blood pressure. People with high
blood pressure should also eat lots of other plants for the same
reason, and cut back on meat, poultry and processed foods that
are rich sources of sodium which can raise high blood pressure.
See my modified DASH diet
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Prove to yourself and your doctor that you can lower your blood pressure with diet: Try my SHOW ME diet (a two-week introduction to the DASH diet)
Learn the basics with Diana's instructions for
Mix and Match Salads
Complete List of Diana's Healthful Recipes
April 18, 2004