DISTINGUISHED STEPPERS UNLIMITED, LLC

Distinguished Steppers Unlimited, LLC
... Steppin' into Fitness with Rhythm and Style ...

ds-u & your health

10/01/2011 - October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Encouraging News about Breast Cancer

Ø More and more breast cancer is being detected early while the tumor is small and limited to the breast.

Ø Currently, two thirds of newly diagnosed breast cancers show no signs that the cancer has spread beyond the breast.

Ø With prompt and appropriate treatment, the outlook for women with breast cancer is good.

Risk Factors

Ø Simply being a woman and getting older puts you at risk. The older you are, the greater your risk.

Ø No woman should consider herself too old to have a regular screening.

Ø Specific Risk Factors Include: Female Gender, Hormonal Factors, Increasing Age, Earlier age at first period, Genetic factors (BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes), Family History, Later age at birth of first child, Later age at menopause, Having no children, Dietary and environmental factors, Personal History of breast cancer or previous breast biopsies.

Ø Having one or more risk factors does not mean you are certain or even likely to develop breast cancer.

Ø On the other hand, not having risk factors does not mean you are "safe".

Ø Most women who develop breast cancer do not have a strong family history or fall into a high risk category.

Desirable or Optimal Levels

Ø Total Cholesterol: Less than 200 mg/dL.

Ø Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) Cholesterol ("bad" cholesterol): Less than 100 mg/dL.

Ø High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) Cholesterol ("good" cholesterol): 40 mg/dL or higher.

Ø Triglycerides: Less than 150 mg/dL.

Early Detection

The key to early detection is screening: looking for cancer in women who have no symptoms of disease. The best available tools to diagnose breast cancer include:

Ø A Regular Screening Mammogram (or X-Ray) of the breast.

Ø A Clinical Breast Exam by a doctor or nurse.

Ø Monthly Breast Self Examinations.

Warning Signs and Symptoms to Have Checked Include

Ø A lump or thickening under the skin.

Ø Skin dimpling, puckering, swelling, irritation, or distortion of the breast.

Ø Spontaneous nipple discharge.

Ø Any change in the size, shape, or color of skin.

Ø Inverted nipple that is a new occurrence.

Sources: www.cancer.org |WellnessWorks, 2011 | Jennie Stuart Medical Center.

07/01/2011 - Dancing can be magical and transforming.

It can breathe new life into a tired soul; make a spirit soar; unleash locked-away creativity; unite generations and cultures; inspire new romances or rekindle old ones; trigger long-forgotten memories; and turn sadness into joy, if only during the dance.

On a more physical level, dancing can give you a great mind-body workout. Researchers are learning that regular physical activity in general can help keep your body, including your brain, healthy as you age.

Exercise increases the level of brain chemicals that encourage nerve cells to grow. And dancing that requires you to remember dance steps and sequences boosts brain power by improving memory skills. (Read the full article)

Source: AARP Health

09/01/2011 - Cholesterol

Cholesterol comes from two sources: your body and food Your liver and other cells in your body make about 75% of blood cholesterol. The other 25% comes from the foods you eat.

LDL cholesterol is the "bad" cholesterol. When too much of it circulates in the blood, it can clog arteries increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke. LDL cholesterol is produced naturally by the body, but many people inherit genes. Eating saturated fat, trans fats and dietary cholesterol also increases how much you have.

Promising Intervention Strategies

Cholesterol awareness requires you first of all to get your cholesterol checked. Then it requires success in all three steps combined below. Just because a person knows their cholesterol levels does not necessarily indicate they will take actions to reduce their cholesterol levels. However, it is an important step in the process of cholesterol reduction.

Ø Being Screened

Ø Being told a level, and

Ø Remembering that level

Desirable or Optimal Levels

Ø Total Cholesterol: Less than 200 mg/dL

Ø Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) Cholesterol ("bad" cholesterol): Less than 100 mg/dL

Ø High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) Cholesterol ("good" cholesterol): 40 mg/dL or higher

Ø Triglycerides: Less than 150 mg/dL

Prevention and Treatment Options

Your diet, weight, physical activity and exposure to tobacco smoke all affect your cholesterol level, and these factors may be controlled by:

Ø Eating a Heart Healthy Diet

Ø Enjoying Regular Physical Activity such as Dancing

Ø Avoiding Tobacco Smoke

You may also seek medication options from your doctor to also help lower your cholesterol. Just take the first step to make the change today!

Sources: Jennie Stuart Medical Center | www.americanheart.org | WellnessWorks, 2011

08/01/2011 Weight Loss Benefits of Line Dancing

Line dancing is a moderate way to burn calories and reduce weight. In terms of calorie expenditure, about 15 minutes of line dancing burns about 75 calories. Over 12 months, this daily line dancing workout uses up a total of 27,375 calories per year: the equivalent of 7.8 pounds of body weight.

Line Dancing: Exercise and Health Benefits

A line dancing workout doesn't just help you to lose weight, it also improves blood circulation, and helps develop leaner thighs and tighten butt muscles.

How to Lose Weight Fast by Doing Line Dancing

In order to increase weight loss, by line dancing, it's important to follow a nutritious eating plan, which includes a good range of minerals, vitamins and other nutrients. Why? Because a well-nourished body responds faster to weight loss. In addition, diet studies show that motivation is improved when you record your weight and body measurements on a week by week (using a regular weighing-scales) and record your general fitness progress.

Does Line Dancing Suit You?

For effective weight reduction, fitness experts recommend that the best type of exercise plan is the one that most suits your individual lifestyle - not necessarily the type of exercise program that burns the most calories.

Source: Calorie Counter

Related Health Links

CNN Health.com

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U.S. Department

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WebMD

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Better Health.

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Yahoo Health

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AARP Health

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