We all know that exercise is good for us.  But what if you have a medical condition that keeps you from exercising?  People with persistent fatigue, cancer-related fatigue, the elderly, and those in chronic pain may feel that it is impossible to keep up with a regular exercise routine.

But, according to researchers, that’s exactly what these people should be doing.

A study at the University of Georgia found that both low-intensity and moderate-intensity exercise increased energy levels in participants.  However, the low-intensity workouts actually produced better results.  Researchers at the University of West England reviewed 28 exercise studies and found that activity was beneficial for relieving fatigue in cancer patients.  The Center for Pain Management at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago uses aerobics and weight training as part of their “boot camp” program to treat chronic pain sufferers.  And a new study done in mice found exercise helpful in delaying the symptoms of Huntington’s Disease.   

Even someone in their 60s or 70s who has never had an exercise routine can still benefit from becoming active, according to Melissa Miller, of the American College of Sports Medicine. 

If your physician agrees that you are healthy enough to exercise, you can begin to set up a customized exercise program with a Physical Therapist or Personal Trainer.

For people with seasonal allergies, this lovely spring weather can lead to some unpleasant symptoms.  Seasonal allergies related to pollen can affect us in the spring, summer, or fall.  The predominant pollens right now in Massachusetts are tree pollens, such as Cedar, Juniper, and Poplar.   Grass pollens will be higher in the summer, and weed pollens are predominant in autumn.  Mold spores can also be an issue in humid weather.

Children and adults of any age can develop seasonal allergies, even if they had been allergy-free for their entire life.  Sometimes a new home, work environment, or pet can trigger the onset of allergies.  Other times, there is no known cause.

Many people confuse allergy symptoms with the common cold.  Symptoms can include nasal congestion, sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes, and itching.  If your symptoms seem to come on at the same time every year and linger, they may be caused by allergies, not a cold.

The most common advice for allergy sufferers is to avoid the allergen.  While this is good advice, it is not always practical, especially with an allergen as prevalent as pollen.  You can reduce your exposure by investing in a high-quality air filter, keeping windows closed while you sleep, and avoiding exercising outside when pollen counts are high.

Here are a few other tips for surviving allergy season:

·         Avoid mucus- producing foods such as dairy and sugar (including fruit juices)

·         Use a nasal rinse such as Sinucleanse

·         Help unblock your sinuses by keeping your neck and facial muscles relaxed

·         Investigate acupuncture, homeopathy, and other alternative treatments

·         Try Chinese herbal medicine (if prescribed by a Licensed Acupuncturist), such as Bi Yan Pian, available at River Valley Acupuncture

When the days start to hit 60 degrees here in New England and tiny green sprigs of new grass begin to poke out of the ground, do you start to feel your pulse quickening and your attention wandering, as the pent-up energy that made you stir crazy during the winter can finally be released?

Chinese medicine believes that there’s a reason for spring fever.

From some of its earliest beginnings, Chinese medical theory has compared our body’s inner workings with the progression of the seasons.  Sometimes called Five Element or Five Phase theory, these principles state that our environment both impacts and reflects our emotions and health.

Think about what happens in nature when spring begins.  New plants begin to grow, animals come out of hibernation, and rivers swell with runoff from melted snow.

We humans also start to feel more energized.  We are flooded with fresh ideas and new opportunities.  We are more willing to explore, to see and be seen. 

If our energy isn’t harnessed productively, we may even feel a bit manic.  It is important to pay attention to our emotions during this time and to avoid getting irritable or short-tempered.  Other health issues associated with the spring phase are seasonal allergies, eye disorders, and tendon problems, such as sprains and strains.

Since the growth we experience during the spring season is still new, it can sometimes feel fragile.  It is important to nurture new ideas during this time so that we have the strength to reach out and continue growing.

Researchers have concluded that acupuncture, when performed within 1 day of in vitro fertilization (IVF), improves rates of pregnancies and number of live births.  

Scientists and professors from three universities collaborated for a systematic review of seven research studies.  Based on the results of these studies, they determined that acupuncture done before or after embryo transfer increases the success rate of the procedure.

This is a great example of Chinese medicine being used as a compliment to Western medical care.  The expansive nature of this analysis helps to legitimize a practice that acupuncturists and fertility centers have been using for years.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 10% of women have had an infertility-related medical visit.  There were 134,260 Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) cycles performed in 2005.  Most of these cycles are costly and can be psychologically and physically stressful for the participating woman.

Although many couples do not consider acupuncture as a first step for addressing fertility issues, Chinese medicine has treated women’s health concerns for centuries.  Some people decide that they would rather try an all-natural approach, such as acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, to address their fertility issues.  For women who do decide to start ART, it is often helpful to have several months of acupuncture treatments prior to starting the ART process; this can help to regulate the menstrual cycle, improve general health, and relieve stress.

For more information on ART success rates, and to check on individual fertility clinics, read the 2005 report from the CDC.

For years, health research was done primarily on white men, and scientists assumed that the results were applicable across all populations.  Now, it is becoming increasingly evident that variables such as gender, race, and geography can also impact health.  The following are just a few examples from recent medical literature.

Two studies of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) found that adult women experienced more emotional and cognitive impairment from the disorder than did men.  This included higher levels of anxiety, depression, sleep impairment, and other mood disorders.  A separate study, from Duke University, revealed that women who have trouble sleeping face more adverse health problems as a result.  While insomnia did not negatively impact men’s health in the study, for women it could lead to serious health hazards such as depression and anger, and possibly higher risk for type II diabetes and stroke.

Outsiders’ perceptions may also influence women’s health.  For example, a survey of doctors in Canada found a potential bias in assessment for knee replacement; the doctors were more likely to recommend knee replacement to men, even when women had comparable symptoms.  Overweight women may also experience more discrimination than overweight men, according to a report by the Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity.

Even among women, race and location can play a role in wellbeing.  One study found that women of color in both Michigan and California tended to have less complete information about breast cancer surgery than did Caucasian women, even after speaking with a surgeon about their options.   Another report in the Journal of Advanced Nursing found that women living in rural areas experienced worse menopausal symptoms than women in cities.