New Update to Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans

The 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans is out now. Learn more about the new recommendations, what has changed, and how to live a healthier life....

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How to Separate Reputable Health, Fitness, and Nutrition Information from Myth and Hype

It’s easy to be overwhelmed or confused by the vast amount of information on health, fitness and nutrition - much of it with claims seem too good to be true. So how can you tell between fact and fiction, between sound science and marketing hype? Read more to learn how to objectively evaluate the validity of various sources of health information....

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Is There an Association Between Low Vitamin D Levels and Depression? The Cooper Center Longitudinal Study

Low serum vitamin D (SVD) levels are associated with numerous medical conditions, including neurologic disorders. In a joint study by The Cooper Institute and The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, researchers examined the association between SVD levels and depression. Read on to learn more....

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Can Being Fit Decrease Your Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death?

Sudden cardiac death is a common cause of death in the United States, but little is known about the risk factors for it. Could having a moderate to high level of fitness decrease your risk of sudden cardiac death even if you have hypertension or are overweight? Recent data from Cooper Clinic patients helps to answer that important question....

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The 10 Minutes of Aerobic Exercise Rule: Does it Still Apply?

Can you really get fit in only 10 minutes? For nearly a decade, we’ve heard that we can improve our fitness by incorporating moderate to vigorous aerobic activity throughout the day in as little as 10 minutes at a time. A recent paper in the Journal of the American Heart Association examined whether or not this ‘10 minute rule’ was still valid....

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Does Physical Activity Impact the Risk of Musculoskeletal Injuries in Women? The Women’s Injury Study (WIN)

While virtually everyone agrees that regular physical activity is good for you, musculoskeletal injuries (MSI) can sometimes result. Surprisingly little is known regarding MSI related to physical activity versus MSI which occur unrelated to physical activity. With this in mind, researchers from The Cooper Institute and the University of North Texas developed and reported on the Women’s Injury Study. Read on to learn more!...

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50 Years of the Cooper 12-Minute Run

Did you know that June 6 was National Running Day? There are many ways to measure cardiorespiratory fitness outside of a laboratory setting, but the most well-known and widely used method is the Cooper 12-Minute Run Test. As we approach our 50 year anniversary, let’s discuss the origin of the test, who uses it, and how it’s administered....

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Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Cognitive Function: What’s the Connection?

We’ve known for decades that regular physical activity is good for our cardiovascular system. More recent evidence points towards maintenance of good brain health as an additional benefit of PA. In a recent paper from the Cooper Clinic Longitudinal Study (CCLS), our researchers at The Cooper Institute examined the relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness and cognitive function in a sample of older Cooper Clinic patients. Read on to learn more!...

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Framingham Heart Study shows that HDL Cholesterol Levels should not be interpreted in a Vacuum!

For nearly four decades, HDL cholesterol has been known as the ‘good cholesterol.’ Over the past few years, researchers have been trying to determine whether or not HDL by itself is protective against heart disease, or if it’s just the fact that high HDL levels are often seen individuals who are physically fit and/or do not have many risk factors for heart disease. Read on to learn more!...

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Can Just a Little Bit of Resistance Training Help to Prevent Metabolic Syndrome?

Metabolic syndrome (MetSyn) is a very common condition that significantly increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. It has long been known that aerobic activity can be very helpful in the prevention of MetSyn. Much less is known about how much resistance training is necessary to prevent this harmful condition. Read on to learn more!...

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Asthma and Depression: the Cooper Center Longitudinal Study (CCLS)

Asthma and depression each affect about 10% of the overall U.S. population. The prevalence of asthma is somewhat higher among youth than adults. While some U.S. studies have shown an association between asthma and depression, the data is based mostly on self-report rather than objective clinical measurements of these conditions. A recent study on Cooper Clinic patients explored this important topic. Read on to learn more!...

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Cardiorespiratory Fitness Levels among Female Cancer Survivors: The Cooper Center Longitudinal Study

Low cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is related to an increased risk of certain cancers in women. Breast cancer survivors have significantly lower levels of CRF than women with no history of cancer. Much less is known about the CRF levels of women who have gynecologic cancers (cervical, endometrial/uterine, and ovarian). In this blog, we look at a recent publication from the Cooper Center Longitudinal Study regarding this important topic, as well as its implications....

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