Health

Why Exercise and Physical Fitness Really Matter

Dr. Derek Berry Thorpe

For those of us adults who think Exercise and Physical Fitness is merely a fleeting endeavor for the young athlete or the influential folk… well, it’s not.

Let me tell you why.

There are many differences, but the one major thing which separates us humans from trees and plants is that we have the ability to move short or long distances. Oh, how the plant world envies that we can move away from danger. I sometimes think this explains why they are so green, but I digress.

Deliberate, repeated, muscular contraction against one’s skeletal frame is a big deal, yet 80% of adults can’t wait to be comfortably lying or sitting in the pursuit of a sedentary lifestyle. Indeed, there are few things that are better predictors of longevity than our degree of fitness, strength and stability. A recent North American study revealed that if a senior citizen, male or female, aged 65 or older fractures their hip/thigh bone, 40% of them will be dead within a year.

Let’s start with the obvious. It takes energy to exercise; riding, jogging, swimming… That food energy is taken from one of your many fat stores and converted into chemical energy (ATP). Thus is the simplified basis of weight loss, and in an overweight person, this is always a good thing.

Nervous System

The effect on the overall nervous system responding to even moderate exercise is quite remarkable. It stimulates the ‘chill’ part of your autonomic nervous system and sends signals to your blood vessel linings instructing them to relax. What results is a period of lowered blood pressure. In the world of a hypertensive, this is golden.

Further, studies show the brain itself responds positively to an inevitable by-product of muscular activity. We are all familiar with that muscular ‘burn’ resulting from repetitive strenuous activity. This sensation is physiologically normal, but the molecule that is created to quell this discomfort, lactate, travels through the circulation producing beneficial effects in the brain, heart and liver. Lactate, as a signaling molecule, protects the brain from dementias, improves cognitive brain function, promotes a feeling of well-being and improves sleep.

Skeletal Protection

Maintaining one’s muscle mass as we age turns out to be a significant factor in the prevention of chronic ailments and accidental falls. The muscle itself is excellent in regulating carbohydrate storage and insulin sensitivity, thus keeping diabetes at bay. For menopausal women especially, the risk of progressive bone density loss leading to osteoporosis, is real and a proven weapon against this is Vitamin K2 along with resistance weight workouts. It turns out that our bones sense the repeated pull and strain from our tendons and responds by laying down a stronger bony matrix. Am I suggesting mature folk join a gym and lift weights? Without hesitation, if the pocket allows it, I say Yes. If a gym membership is not on the cards, there are many ways one can use your own body weight in a calisthenic workout at home. Remember the statistic I quoted earlier about hip fractures. Forty percent over 65 years may die in a year, but the remaining 60% do extremely poorly as well in terms of quality of life.

Even if we are not serious athletes, we should all be familiar with the term VO2 max. What is this? Basically, it’s an indicator of cardiorespiratory fitness. It measures the maximal extraction of oxygen from the blood per minute per kilogram under your most strenuous activity. Accurate assessment can only be done under lab conditions with monitors and tubes going hither and tither, but respectable estimates are possible to calculate nowadays given one’s age, gender and weight. Bottom line is that as your fitness improves the better your VO2 max becomes.

Pay attention to this statistic. The risk of dying from any cause is 200% less when compared to those who are in the lowest 25th percentile of their predicted VO2 max versus those who are just in the range of their 50-75th percentile. So how does one climb the ladder of improving your VO2 max? The common denominator here is the health and concentration of your own mitochondria. I’ve spoken about these mighty ATP producing organelles in previous articles. And how do you go about improving your own stock of mitochondria? Simply, stress them with consistent exercise (hormesis leading to mitophagy).

To be sure, all the complete benefits have not been included in this article, but this is why Exercise and Physical Fitness matter, folks. In some ways I’m sorry trees aren’t able to run away from lumberjacks coming to cut them down. At least we’d have less furniture around for us humans to laze about on.

Dr. Thorpe is a nuclear medicine and functional medicine physician with post graduate degrees from Cornell School of Medicine and the University of Florida. He mentors his clients through the ketogenic diet and treats pain and injury through optimism of blood flow.

Health

Excitement builds for CIBC Caribbean’s Walk for the Cure 2024

Excitement is building as planning has commenced in earnest for this year’s edition of the Caribbean’s largest cancer fundraiser, CIBC Caribbean’s Walk for the Cure.

Walk Managers across the bank’s 11-member footprint have been meeting with their committees and fine-tuning this year’s fundraising activities aimed at surpassing the over USD$450 000 raised in support of cancer care and support organizations across the region last year.

In addition to donations and sponsorship other fundraising activities held around the region include Paint for the Cure, Hike for the Cure and Golf for the Cure.

“Since its modest beginning in 2012, Walk for the Cure has raised over USD$4 million across our regional footprint. Every penny raised and donated has been shared among cancer care organizations and charities committed to the prevention and early detection of the disease, to education and outreach and to the care of persons with cancer and their families that are impacted,” said Mark St. Hill, the bank’s Chief Executive Officer and Chair of its charitable arm, the FirstCaribbean ComTrust Foundation which hosts the walk along with regional partners.

He praised staff members who eagerly volunteer every year to ensure the walk comes off successfully. “Your efforts, strengthened by the scores of dedicated corporate sponsors and individual contributions have seen us make a real difference in the lives of persons with cancer, their families and care givers. It is not an exaggeration when I say that your collective efforts have saved lives”.

Trustee of the FirstCaribbean ComTrust Foundation and Director of Corporate Communications at CIBC Caribbean, Debra King said the annual event was a demonstration of the bank’s commitment to the communities where they are located.

“No other activity more clearly demonstrates our commitment to our communities than Walk for the Cure which yearly attracts thousands of walkers and runners across the region. I am hopeful that again this year our sponsors and thousands of supporters around the region will rally to this cause resulting in record numbers on the roads and breaking records with our fundraising as well,” she stated.

The walk began as part of the celebrations to mark the bank’s 10th anniversary in 2012 and takes place across its 11-member footprint.

The funds generated from the walk are used primarily to assist with the purchase and maintenance of equipment used in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer patients.

They are also used to provide assistance, care and counselling to patients and their families as well as to raise awareness, and stress the importance of early detection, through education campaigns across the region. (PR)

Health

Gastrointestinal Illness On The Rise

Gastrointestinal illness continues to increase, and health officials have identified a new virus cause among lab samples – rotavirus.

This rise in cases, in adults and children, has been seen since late April until present.

The Ministry of Health and Wellness reported that for the diarrheal samples tested, three samples from late May and early June showed the presence of rotavirus, in addition to the bacterial foodborne pathogens that have been previously identified. Rotavirus is a very contagious agent spread by contact with objects or persons contaminated with infected stool.

Vomiting was a prominent symptom for many persons, according to health authorities.

As a result, members of the public are being urged to employ proper hand hygiene methods, such as washing their hands regularly, especially before eating, and to continue to be cautious when purchasing ready-to-eat food items.

The uptick in cases in persons older than five years moved from 34 at the end of April, to 76 cases in the week ending May 11, 2024.

Since then, weekly numbers have been falling, most recently to 46 cases in the week ending June 15, 2024, but are still above the alert threshold. At this time of the year, the alert level for this age group is fewer than eight cases.

In children under five years old, the number of cases has moved from eight for the week ending April 27, to peaking at 27 cases in the week ending May 18, 2024.

Persons are encouraged to wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and dry them with disposable tissue, especially after changing nappies, using the toilet, or before eating. If soap and water are not available, the use of an alcohol-based hand sanitiser is recommended.

Those who purchase items to eat should ensure that sellers conduct appropriate food handling practices, such as protecting food from flies and other vectors; using suitable utensils to touch food; and maintaining hot or cold items at the correct temperatures. Hot foods must be kept above 140 degrees Fahrenheit, and cold foods at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below.

Health officials further advise that people keep unwashed hands away from the eyes, nose, and mouth, and to generally avoid touching these areas as germs can enter the body this way. (PR/GIS)

Health

Cannabis Legislation explained at the NCSA Panel Discussion

While doctors in Barbados can prescribe cannabis, they must follow a stringent legal process and obtain the necessary permissions from the authorities.

Superintendent Anthony Warner of The Barbados Police Service made this clear while speaking at The National Council on Substance Abuse (NCSA) panel discussion titled “The Grassroots of Medicinal and Recreational Cannabis.” The event brought together various stakeholders to discuss the evolving landscape of cannabis legislation in Barbados.

Addressing what he said was a common misconception about the role of law enforcement in interpreting legislation, Warner emphasized that the police are not responsible for interpreting the law but for enforcing it within the framework established by the state. “It probably would be a dangerous thing if you have to leave it to the police to interpret the law because they might do it in their own interest,” he remarked, underscoring the importance of adherence to the legal standards set by the state.

One of the key topics discussed was the recent amendment to the Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act CAP 131, which introduces a more nuanced approach to handling minor cannabis offences. Warner clarified that while the possession of any amount of cannabis remains illegal, the amendment, specifically section 6A, introduces a fixed penalty system for individuals found with 14 grams or less of cannabis. This system allows police officers to issue a ticket instead of making an arrest, provided the individual does not challenge the nature of the substance.

“Before, if you got any amount, a stem, a seed, a stalk, the police could have arrested you for the smallest amount of cannabis. What the law does now is tell us to give a different approach on how the police would treat that type of offence,” Warner explained.

Addressing the community’s concerns about cannabis use and the role of medical practitioners, Warner stressed the legal requirements for prescribing medicinal cannabis. He noted that while doctors can prescribe cannabis, they must follow a stringent legal process and obtain the necessary permissions from the authorities. This ensures that the use of cannabis remains regulated and does not slip into misuse or abuse.

The Superintendent also highlighted the importance of collaboration between the police and the community. He believes that such interactions foster mutual understanding and trust, making it safer and more comfortable for citizens to communicate with law enforcement.

Warner provided a comprehensive overview of the current state of cannabis legislation in Barbados. His insights highlighted the balance the law seeks to achieve between enforcement and leniency, ensuring that while cannabis possession remains an offence, minor infractions are dealt with in a way that is fair and proportional.

The discussion underscored the ongoing need for community engagement and legal clarity as Barbados navigates the complex terrain of cannabis regulation. (PR)