CHI - Mercy Medical Centerville

MERCY MEDICAL CENTERCENTERVILLE /// www.mercycenterville.org 2 healthbeat Keeping You Up to Date on the Latest Health News MYTH BUSTER: EVENING EXERCISE DOESN'T DISRUPT SLEEP You may have heard that late-night workouts can hinder sleep. But a 2014 study published in Sleep Medicine reveals that individuals who exercise within an hour or two before bedtime may actually sleep better than those who don't exercise. Pick an exercise time that works for you and stick to it — even if that means before- bedtime activity. POSITIVE THINKING AND HEART HEALTH CONNECTED A study published in Health Behavior and Policy Review in early 2015 reveals you are twice as likely to have a healthy heart if you're an optimistic thinker. Researchers analyzed responses to a mental health questionnaire along with a number of heart- health indicators, including body mass index, blood pressure, and levels of physical activity, cholesterol and blood sugar, in 5,134 participants. Results showed optimists excel in all areas of heart health. FOODS HIGH IN TRANS FAT LINKED TO MEMORY LOSS An extra helping of french fries may harm more than your heart. Research reveals that younger men whose diets contain high amounts of trans fat may have a harder time remembering facts. More research is needed to see if this also applies to women, but your best bet is to reach for a healthier snack. Trans fat is widely considered to be the most unhealthy type of fat because it raises your LDL ("bad") cholesterol while lowering your HDL ("good") cholesterol, increasing heart-disease risk. It is often identied on nutrition labels as "partially hydrogenated vegetable oil." THE YOGURTBLOOD PRESSURE CONNECTION A study published in Hypertension monitored 543 adults and found small blood pressure improvements among participants who consumed probiotics daily for two months. While consuming probiotic-rich foods shouldn't replace getting exercise, eating a healthy diet or taking your daily blood pressure medication, adding a daily serving of yogurt may benet both your heart and digestive health. ON THE COVER Senior Life Solutions is now oering mental health services to seniors at Mercy Medical Center-Centerville. Seated: Whitney Hornaday, RN, BA, Program Director at Senior Life Solutions. Standing, from left: Tasha Whye, TLMFT, Program Therapist at Senior Life Solutions; James Fleming, MD, Medical Director at Senior Life Solutions; Clint Christianson, Mercy-Centerville President; Lynsey Perry, Regional Director at Senior Life Solutions.

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