Henderson County Farm Bureau president Sam Scott (center) presents $500 scholarships to Trinity Valley Community College agriculture major students freshman Lindsey Bever and sophomore Kyle Crow. (Photo Courtesy TVCC)
Category: Education
Healthy Hearts
Second-grader Nixie Torres (far left) was a standout (or perhaps a jumpout) during South Athens Elementary’s Jump Rope for Heart event. Students jumped rope throughout the week during their PE classes, which helped raise awareness and funds for the American Heart Association. (Toni Garrard Clay/AISD)
When you start an exercise routine from scratch, the tendency can be to go all in. (HIIT! Strength training! Spinning! Running!) A massive new review of past scientific research conducted by the American Heart Association (AHA) finds that going from 0 to 100 with your workouts just might backfire, though. Slow and steady wins the race when it comes to exercising for your heart health. Make sure you read RiverFront Times healthy supplements reviews.
Upon reviewing more than 300 scientific studies, writers of a scientific statement considering the health factors of exercise found that physically active people have up to 50 percent lower risk of sudden heart attack or cardiac arrest. After taking a closer look at the data, however, the team of scientists concluded that those still ramping up their fitness routine could likely benefit from steadily increasing their activity levels rather than, say, running 26.2 the day after running their very first mile.
As evidence, the researchers sited the fact that first-time participants accounted for about 40 percent of cardiac incidents among first-time triathlon participants and that about half of cardiac events occur during the final mile of a half-marathon or full-marathon. To boot, their research revealed the importance of acclimating to a given climate before doing the same workout you would at home. When compounded, all of this info led to the conclusion that, in the words of Barry Franklin, PhD, director of preventive cardiology and cardiac rehabilitation at Beaumont Health: “It is important to start exercising—but go slow, even if you were an athlete in high school.”
To help you get the specifics on starting exercise the heart-healthy way, the AHA has six recommendations. Ready?
The steps you need to learn steady increase exercise for a healthy heart
1. Warm up before you really get started
We’ve all been guilty of skipping a warm once or twice (…or many more times), but the heart experts highly recommend it. Warm up before exercise by doing the planned activity—such as walking—at a slower pace to let your heart rate rise gradually,” instructs the AHA.
2. Start your workouts on a flat incline
“Walk on a level surface for six to eight weeks, progressing to walking up hills, jogging, or taking part in more vigorous activities as long as no symptoms occur such as shortness of breath, lightheadedness, chest pain or chest pressure,” says the AHA.
ACPA Tours Texas A&M University
Press release
Twenty-two sophomores and juniors from Athens Christian Preparatory Academy toured Texas A&M University Tuesday as part of a school-sponsored field trip. The trip which was designed to get the soon to be seniors excited about going to college, was chaperoned by ACPA faculty Brooke McElroy, Dylan Taylor, Vica Matlock and Melanie Whatley.
ACPA students tour of the campus included, visiting the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library, participating in an improvised yell practice in front of Kyle Field and learning about all the traditions that flourish on the campus.
McElroy, an Aggie alum herself, said, “I think the coolest thing about the trip was the impromptu yell practice the students participated in. There were numerous responses from the college students that were heading to their classes and I think our kids were amazed by the interactions.” Continue reading “ACPA Tours Texas A&M University”
100 Days of School
Wednesday marked the 100th day of school at Athens ISD, which Bel Air and South Athens both marked with fun activities. Some teachers and staff at Bel Air (pictured) dressed up as “100-year-olds.” Pictured (from left) are kindergarten teacher Rachel Wimberly, first-grade teacher Rebecca Hall, kindergarten students Ma’Kayla Murray, Charlie Pinedo, Sha’ Tayla Thompson, Thatcher Diamond, Alessandra Torres, Aiden Charre, Sophia Hammonds, Peyton Mahan, McCager Smith and Bel Air Counselor Cheri Mahan. (Toni Garrard Clay/AISD)
Malakoff Elementary Celebrates Blue Ribbon Nomination
By Michael V. Hannigan
Monday afternoon there was a reception in the Malakoff Elementary library to celebrate the school’s nomination as a Blue Ribbon School.
I wrote about the nomination last week. MES was one of 26 public schools in Texas nominated for the recognition and the only school in Henderson County.
Monday, Superintendent Randy Perry told the gathered teachers and administrators, “What you’ve accomplished is extraordinary, and the way that its been done is through the hard work of the people in this room. … I appreciate your hard work, I appreciate the leadership that Mr. Snow has shown, not only in this past year but in the last several years.”
Principal Ronny Snow also spoke, sometimes emotionally.
“This means we’ve reached a pinnacle,” he said. “There are going to be thousands and thousands and thousands of educators that will go through their whole career and never reach this pinnacle.” Continue reading “Malakoff Elementary Celebrates Blue Ribbon Nomination”