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Better balance helps prevent falls, builds confidence & fosters independence Dear Reader, We’ve all heard stories that begin, “She broke her hip and after that...” Broken hips can be disastrous for independence and long-term health. Fortunately, many can be prevented — more than 95% of broken hips occur because of falls. One of the best ways to help prevent falls is to maintain a sound, responsive, and enduring sense of balance. This important Special Health Report from doctors at Harvard Medical School shows you how you can work to prevent falls. In its pages you will discover what you can do to improve balance and maintain strength, mobility, and agility. Better Balance will brief you on the conditions, medications, and situations that can create instability. You’ll get tips for fall-proofing your home. And most important, Better Balance will walk, lift, bend, and stretch you through a series of workouts and exercises designed to boost your stability, confidence, and self-reliance. The report shows you how to exercise to improve posture, increase muscle strength and speed, sharpen reflexes, expand flexibility, and firm your core. Filled with workouts that respect your time and budget, Better Balance gives you step-by-step instructions for working towards greater static and dynamic balance. LEARN MORE

There’s a real “use it or lose it” component to balance.

Inside Better Balance, you’ll discover: How balance works Balance problems SPECIAL BONUS SECTION: Safety measures to prevent falls Activities that enhance balance And so much more! The report includes complete, illustrated workouts that you can do at home — on your own schedule and at your own pace. Certified Master Trainers developed these exercises in consultation with Harvard Medical School physicians. These workouts include guidance on proper techniques, movement and tempo, and modifying the workouts to your own fitness level and exercise goals. These are exercises that will keep you motivated and keep you moving. Our goal in this report is to help you avoid from a potentially devastating fall. If you want to stay steadier on your feet, if you want to continue to enjoy the independence and peace of mind that sound balance can give you, take the first step now. Order your copy of Better Balance today. LEARN MORE & GET STARTED TODAY!

SUBSCRIBE | SHOP THE BOOKSTORE The pillars of wellness Americans are far less healthy than they could be. Six out of every 10 live with at least one chronic disease, according to the CDC. Four in 10 people have two or more conditions. Chronic conditions like heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes exact a heavy toll on our collective health and productivity. Researchers from Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health analyzed data from the CDC and two long-term population studies-the Nurses' Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study. They found that people who practiced five specific lifestyle habits dramatically reduced their risks of heart disease and cancer, compared with those who did none of these things. Get your copy of Your Whole-Life Wellness Program Your Whole-Life Wellness Program Special Health Report is your guide to “lifestyle medicine” — an evidence-based approach to disease prevention and treatment that helps you focus on adopting and sticking with healthy habits you can live with. Learn the importance of getting restorative sleep. Having a positive attitude. Being resilient in the face of stressful situations. Getting “unstuck” when the going gets rough. Having maximum energy for every day. Enjoying quality connections. And living a fulfilling life purpose.   SHOW ME MORE → The healthy participants: ate a diet high in fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and unsaturated fatty acids, and low in processed meats, sugary drinks, trans fats, and sodium did not smoke got at least three-and-a-half hours of moderate-to vigorous physical activity each week drank only moderate amounts of alcohol (no more than one drink per day for women, and two drinks or less per day for men) maintained a healthy body mass index (BMI) in the range of 18.5 to 24.9. How effective were these measures? The researchers found that practicing all five habits from age 50 onward extended life by more than a decade compared with practicing none of them. Women who didn't adopt any of the habits lived on average to age 79, while those who did all five lived to 93. Similarly, men who did not practice these five habits lived to 75 on average, while those who did lived to nearly 88. Wellness habits These five habits fall in the realm of self-care-an evidence-based approach to disease prevention and treatment that focuses on adopting healthy habits. Based on lifestyle medicine, self-care doesn't replace traditional medicine, but it is a powerful complement to it. When it comes to self-care, habits that foster a healthy body are a good place to start. But one thing scientists have learned over time is that the mind and body are inextricably linked. Thoughts and emotions influence health in many ways. For example, stressful events can raise your blood pressure. Depression lowers your tolerance for pain, making pain feel worse. And loneliness now appears to be a cause of premature death. These are just three examples among many. That means that any program for true self-care must go beyond these five habits, but they are the foundation of creating wellness. For more information on self-care practices, check out Your Whole-Life Wellness Program, a Special Health Report from Harvard Medical School. Image: © BestieVanderMeer | GettyImages Share this story: FEATURED CONTENT Your Whole-Life Wellness Program • Self-care: A holistic approach to well-being • Nutrition • Physical activity • Sleep • Attitude • Resilience  • Time-outs Click here to learn more »

 

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