If you have a serious illness, a disability, or hip or knee replacement surgery, your healthcare provider may prescribe medication – and medical equipment, too. They may recommend mobility and bathroom devices and other tools to help aid your balance and save your energy. The goal is to help you be as safe and independent as possible as you heal or adapt to a new medical condition.
But you may be surprised to find out that private insurance or Medicare either doesn’t cover all the gear you need or doesn’t cover it nearly as well as you had hoped. Or maybe you don’t have insurance. That’s when it pays to check out a medical equipment loan program near you.
Working out in group fitness classes tends to encourage people to go all-out, all the time. But when it comes to lifting, there’s something to be said about taking breaks. While some people worry that lagging between sets can be a sign of laziness or disinterest, in reality, taking breaks enhances the effect of the lift. That’s why apps, like Alive by Whitney Simmons, incorporate regimented rest time between each set, and even longer breaks between exercises. But it begs the question: How long should you rest between sets?
It may be normalized to complain of low energy, but chronically low energy levels are certainly not normal and there may be a nutrient deficiency causing fatigue. While specific nutrient deficiencies are associated with low energy, you’ll want to consider whether or not you are taking in enough energy—literally, from calories—first.
Think fast: What’s the best workout to reduce blood pressure? You might guess it’s a low-key aerobic exercise like walking, or a heart-pumping method like Zumba class. While those are great options, it turns out that isometric exercises—in which you simply hold one position, like a plank—trump all other workouts.
Craving sweet food is natural, but consuming lots of added sugar isn’t. Too much of it in your diet can lead to poor digestion and moodiness and negatively impact your overall health. So if you’re cutting down on added sugar, learning how to use bananas as a sweetener can go a long way.