Health Bulletin

Short walks can offset long stretches of sitting

Taking really short but frequent walks can counteract the harm caused by sitting for long periods of time, a new study published in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise suggests.
Sitting for a prolonged period of time can cause impairment of blood vessel function, which is an early marker of cardiovascular disease, and that breaking sitting time prevents the decline in that function. While sitting, muscles are not contracting and pumping blood to the heart as effectively. As a result, the ability of blood vessels to expand from increased blood flow can become impaired. Being sedentary is also linked to high cholesterol and a larger waistline, which increase the risk for heart and metabolic disease.

Statins may help prevent diabetes-related nerve damage

Cholesterol-busting drugs called statins may also help prevent common and serious diabetes complications, a new study published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology indicates.
Although the drugs are known to lower the risk for heart attack and stroke among those with type 2 diabetes, Danish researchers report statins may also help protect against diabetes-related damage to small blood vessels in the body that can lead to blindness and amputations.