High intensity exercise was in the news today. Let’s do science: Don’t worry, I will make it easy. Background: It is known that exercise is good for the heart, even after stents or bypass. Historically, high intensity exercise was too scary to recommend for heart patients. Recently though, reports have suggested that high intensity exercise […]
Author: Dr John
Today was Storm the Greens, the last race of the Ohio Valley Cyclocross Series. Goodwill was in abundance. Hearts did well today. It was the Kentucky state CX championship. A win, plus 7 dollars gets you a barbecue sandwich. My race: who cares. Had great legs. Left too much skin on the ground. 20 degress […]
I give you this outstanding piece on the essence of cyclocross. On this same day that “runzen” pens this treatise, our PapaJohn’s sponsored Storm the Greens gets a really nice shout-out in the CJ. There is little to add to “runzen,” except to spin the sensations described into the larger picture of health and life. […]
This very important study on the importance of fitness in early adulthood almost passed me by. That is, until this sign at Walden caught my eye… Here is a study linking cardiovascular fitness in early adulthood with increased intelligence, better performance on cognitive tests and higher achievement later in life. In other words, being fit […]
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Indoors and happy…
Wednesday is an office day. A patient asks in a serious tone, “Hear you are a bike racer?” “Yes,” I answer. “Have you ever ridden in the Tour de France.” Pause. Huge Grin. Trying not to disappoint, I respond, “No, I started a little late in life.” I give you this file from today’s workout. […]
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Good for the earth and body…
Another story of symbiosis. The UK journal Lancet, which many consider, the british equivalent of the NEJM, published 5 articles on the health benefits of reducing green house gases. Seems that what is good for the earth is good for us as well. They claim… “Walking and cycling more, driving less, switching to cleaner-burning stoves […]
Only one more weekend of cyclocross remains. Sundays have been so good. Community, participation, challenge, support and togetherness all are appropriate words. There are few sports where the whole family participates. Sunday cross begins in the AM and races go all day. Women, junior’s, 3 categories of men and then even the pro’s each get […]
The parking lot is devoid of the usual chaos. The coffee cart is closed. An unusual quiet in the hallway is the norm. Holiday in the hospital. There were dark circles underneath the fatigued eyes and a slowness of gait. A colleague “fixed” four heart attacks on Thanksgiving. Sometimes, I make fun of the “squishers,” […]
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Gratitude…
It’s Thanksgiving. Grateful for so much… Today, we are healthy. For Staci, Will and Cat. Family. For my childhood, thanks Dad and Mom. For years with our beloved grandparents, Non and Gramps. Education. My parents saw that we were educated. Thank you. For my friends, many started as bike friends, now are just good friends. […]
My grandfather had many grin-inducing phrases; one of the more commonly heard was, “nice guys finish last.” Maybe in a cross race, but not so much with heart disease. More interesting news from November’s AHA meeting. Here, a study showing that patients who exhibit positive attitudes in the face of stress are much less likely […]
Patients are asking me about the H1N1 vaccine. Usually, as a “one more thing” question at the tail end of a visit. This question churns the angst machine. The face twists in unknowing. It doesn’t have to be so bad. Could just give the party line and say, “get the shot.” Have a nice day […]