I have seen reports recently that indicate the leisure time of Americans is on the rise. Does the “I don’t have enough time” argument still hold water?

One report from the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston documents that from 1965 to 2003 “…leisure for men increased by 6-8 hours per week (driven by a decline in market work hours) and for women by 4-8 hours per week (driven by a decline in home production work hours).”

While this may be true, most of us do not feel that we have an abundance of leisure time. Why? The likely reason is that we fill up all of our leisure time with more activities and commitments that sap our energy, rather than refresh and rejuvenate us.

Do we really have control over how we spend our time? Obviously “yes,” but once over-committed, it’s difficult to exert our control. But if we don’t, our schedules seem to spin out of control and rather than taking time to care for ourselves (on many levels) we feel more run-down and unhealthy.

Consider reclaiming a little leisure time this season – take care, have fun, and live!

To your health,

There really is a month for everything! In fact, May has at least 39 health-related observances, but blood pressure is the focus for our newsletter. Consider this: approximately 50 million Americans have high blood pressure, and almost one-third of these people do not know they are at risk. Often, the first symptom of hypertension is a stroke or heart attack. If you don’t currently know your blood pressure, please take this month to have it checked. Many drug stores have do-it-yourself testers or you can go to your doctor, health club, or local fitness professional to get a reading.

What is blood pressure? Let’s say yours is 120/80, which is considered normal. The top number (120), called systolic blood pressure, refers to the amount of pressure created by the heart pumping blood to the body. Diastolic blood pressure, the bottom number (80), is the amount of pressure left when the heart relaxes in between beats.

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is any reading of 140/90 or above. Left untreated, it can lead to many serious health conditions such as heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure. While the cause of hypertension is often unknown, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute recommendations the following to prevent or control it:

• Eating healthy foods that include fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products
• Cutting down on salt and sodium in the diet
• Losing excess weight and staying at a healthy weight
• Limiting alcohol intake
• Staying physically active

You can take care of two of these guidelines – being active and losing excess weight – by exercise. Thirty minutes of moderate activity most days of the week is recommended. Moderate activity includes brisk walking, riding a bicycle, and gardening. You can even break up the activity into smaller bouts, such as ten minutes of activity three times during the day. As always, be sure to check with your physician before starting any exercise program.

If you have hypertension, your doctor may prescribe medication to control it. Some medications can affect your exercise, so be sure to check with your doctor. While there are many different types of medication for treating hypertension, here are a few categories and their effect on exercise:

• Beta blockers can lower exercise heart rate and maximum heart rate. Using perceived exertion to measure intensity is a better choice if using this medicine.
• Diuretics can cause dehydration. Be sure to drink plenty of water before, during and after exercise.
• Ace inhibitors keep your blood pressure lower at rest and during exercise. A longer cool down period is advised, and be careful to not get up from the floor too quickly.

Add Some Color To Your Life