KEEP YOUR BRAIN YOUNG 3 TIPS FOR GOOD BRAIN HEALTH FROM HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL
necessarily a sign of future cognitive decline, and Harvard Health Publishing urges readers to maintain good mental health and get restful sleep, as they are “certainly important goals” for improving cognitive function and overall well-being.
As we age, our bodies change, including our mental functions. Cognitive decline is one of the biggest fears of aging, but it’s not inevitable. Though we’re still learning new things about how our brains work, there’s a lot of scientific research that shows how to keep your brain young. If you want to keep your mind sharp throughout your lifetime, then follow this advice from Harvard Medical School. 1. GET A GOOD WORKOUT. Exercising regularly helps all the muscles and organs in your body, even your brain! A good workout can lower your blood pressure and improve your cholesterol levels, which help your brain and your heart. Harvard Health Publishing, a website of Harvard Medical School, also notes that “animals who exercise regularly increase the number of tiny blood vessels that bring oxygen-rich blood to the region of the brain that is responsible for thought.” 2. PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR MENTAL HEALTH. Poor mental health can lead to impaired cognitive function. Chronic anxiety, depression, and exhaustion tend to cause low scores on cognitive function tests. But test scores aren’t
3. STAY CONNECTED. It’s not enough to focus on yourself. In order to maintain your long-term cognitive health, you should also focus on your connections with other people. According to Harvard Health Publishing, “Strong social ties have been associated with a lower risk of dementia, as well as lower blood pressure and longer life expectancy.” Make new friends, stay in touch with family members, and maintain positive relationships in your life. They say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. This is certainly true when it comes to your brain health. Do what you can today to protect your mental functions tomorrow.
TOP TIPS FOR HAVING GOOD POSTURE DURING AT-HOME ACTIVITIES
SITTING MORE LATELY? HERE’S M3 PT’S ADVICE FOR AVOIDING ACHES AND PAINS!
One tactic to having good posture is pretending that you’re standing against a wall to get your height measured. You should hold your head straight with your ears over the middle of your shoulders (instead of slouched one way or the other). Your shoulders should be straight, as well as your knees, with your belly tucked in (don’t let your buttocks or hips stick out!). Many people straighten like this naturally when their backs are against a wall for measurement. Whether you’re cooking or doing laundry, just pretend you’re against a wall while doing it. Another threat to bad posture is sitting all the time. It’s very tempting to slouch while sitting, but this can be detrimental to your health. Protect your natural spine curve by sitting all the way back in your chair and
Have your neck and shoulders been aching lately? Although millions of Americans have experienced disruptions in their routines from COVID-19, that doesn’t mean we should disregard other factors related to our physical health! Good posture can mean so much more than preventing soreness, and your team at M3 PT is here to tell you why. First of all, avoid the aching of “text neck” by lifting your phone to your eye level, moving your eyes instead of your head. This is important to prevent slouching. Slouching will put strain on bones, muscles, and joints that hold your backbone in place, but it can also press your inside organs together. Over time, it will be harder to digest food or get enough air while breathing. That’s why good posture often feels like a relief to your body right away.
placing a rolled-up towel or lumbar cushion behind you. Your feet should always be flat, touching the floor. Lastly, although it’s always so tempting, you don’t want to lie in bed and watch TV at the same time! It frequently causes stress on your neck and shoulders, so put pillows behind your back and under your knees. If you need any personalized advice, whether about your posture or injury recovery, call our team and let us help you today!
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