Sometimes it can be rather difficult to live a healthy lifestyle. Between work, school, kids, and -- oh yeah, how about having a life, setting aside time to exercise or even fix a healthier meal usually seems like an impossibility. That's why making these healthier changes in your life shouldn't be based on rash, drastic decisions. The "Crash Diet" is the perfect example. Not only is this approach to weight loss unhealthy, but it can actually lead to long-term weight gain. The same goes for an exercise program. If you're new to resistance training, for example, you would do well to ease your way into a routine. Don't make the mistake that I made when I was 14-years-old and first starting to lift weights; and that is to find some dinosaur-sized bodybuilder's workout in a muscle magazine and use it as a guide for your own workout. Take it from me, your arms and legs will feel like they could fall off your body at any given moment. You'll barely be able to move for days at a time, let alone have any desire whatsoever to ever work out again. My point is that the best approach to health and wellness it to take things slowly...baby steps, if you will.

Following this approach, and seemingly doing so quite effectively, are the participants of the America On the Move Foundation's Steptember celebration. AOMF is a non-profit focused on healthy living through small and manageable changes. The group promotes making two small changes in your lifestyle, both of which will have a positive impact on your overall health over time.

The first is to add 2,000 steps (approx. 1 mile) to to your day. This is probably easier to achieve that it may first seem. Try taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Perhaps walk to your car in the off-site parking lot instead of hopping in the shuttle (besides, you don't really want to ride in the "Loser Cruiser," do you?). Or maybe you could even take a leisurely walk around your neighborhood. Whatever method you choose, just try to be consistent with doing it every day.

The second is to cut a mere 100 calories from your diet, which is the equivalent of a tablespoon of butter. Now, I realize that you probably don't actually woof down a tablespoon of butter a day But, you likely get this many calories from a myriad of other possible sources. These days, just about everything has over 100 calories in it, so just pick one of your regular treats and eliminate it from your diet. Cutting 100 calories may not seem like a lot, but over a year's time, this will result in the loss of a decent amount of weight.

For more information on AOMF's Stempber celebration, visit their site at: www.AmericaOnTheMove.org . Though the celebration has already started, you can hop on in at any time and join in on the fun. Need an even greater incentive that getting healthier and losing weight? Howe about winning an iPod? AOMF will give away a free iPod shuffle, and at the end of the month, participants are eligible to win a $500 gift certificate to Dick's Sporting Goods.

Walking -- it's the first thing we learn to do after crawling. Factor in the amount of it we've done over the course of our lives since then, and it's clear that we're more than warranted in considering ourselves experts. Professional, even. We are the walking gurus, and we have the extensive track record to prove it. With this being the case, why is it when it comes to walking as an exercise, so few people do it? Probably because we do it all the time anyway, therefore it does little to stimulate our interest.

We are an easily bored species, one that needs almost constant change in some way, shape or form. This is likely the reason why so many people prefer elaborate workouts to something as simple as placing one foot in front of the other for an extended period of time. To help remedy the situation, you may want to try some of the following Boredom Busters:

Tune-Up. One of the best ways to liven-up a workout is to listen to music. Whether it's the Rocky IV soundtrack to get you all fired up, some body-moving hip-hop, or even Classical favorites, music will help keep your feet moving.

Intervals. Walking is a low-intensity cardio workout, but it doesn't always have to be. To burn extra calories, and to mix things up a bit over the course of your stroll, try picking up the pace for a minute or so every now and again. By doing so, you can burn an extra 100 calories or so over the course of a 30-minute workout.

VERY Short Term Goals. Of course it's important to have long-term goals (i.e. feel healthier, lower cholesterol, lose weight, etc.), a great way to keep you motivated through your daily walk is to have an almost immediate goal in sight. By this I mean having a goal, or even a reward, waiting for you at the end of your walk. It could be a landmark (such as a view from the top of a hill, or your arrival to a friend's house), but could also be something such as a tasty, low-fat meal that is waiting for you.

Make it a Family Affair. With quality time becoming harder and harder for the modern family to find, a great solution is to use that daily walk to serve that purpose. Because you're only walking, you'll have plenty of wind left to have discussions about school, work, and any other topic that would before be part of typical dinner table discussion. Plus, with childhood obesity rates on the rise, bringing the kids along may benefit them, as well.

Get Creative. This could mean anything from taking a different route each day, to holding a set of very light dumbells in your hands while you walk. Not only will changes of this kind prevent you from becoming bored, they will also ensure that your fitness results do not plateau over time.

If you're worried about your heart, and even if your not, improving your health both today and in the long-run is as simple as taking four small steps. That's it. Only four changes. Want to know what they are? Here they are, courtesy of Fitsugar:

• Eat at least 5 servings of fruit and veggies a day
• Exercise at least 30 minutes a day
• Maintain a healthy weight, and healthy BMI of between (18.5 and 24.9)
• Don't smoke, or quit if you do

Ok, the last two might be a bit of a struggle for some, but if you do the first two, the last two should follow. These really are the most important things you can do for your health. What do you think?

I didn't realize this, but there's a nationwide campaign to put portable defibrillators, or AEDs, in every school. Proponents want the defibrillators in place to protect kids who may suffer a cardiovascular event, as well as adults in the school building. But a recent study out of Seattle questions the logic of spending $1000-$3000 on the equipment in every school, when there may not be a need.

Researchers found that few cardiovascular events happen among school aged children as it is, and that an AED would most likely be used on adults who happened to be in the building. They also found that those adults were more likely to be in junior and senior high schools (for sports programs, etc.) so AEDs may not be required at the elementary level.

On the other hand, no one really knows when and where a heart attack may strike, and wouldn't it be tragic if it happened in a building that didn't acquire an AED to cut costs? It's a tough decision for those who balance the school budgets...what do you think?

A dose of Rover might just be the perfect medicine for heart patients. Research, reported by the American Heart Association, has found that spending time with a dog helps heart and lung function by lowering blood pressure, diminishing the release of harmful hormones, and decreasing anxiety.

The best news, is that it doesn't take much time with a furry friend to see results. In the study, hospitalized heart patients spent just 12 minutes with the dogs -- so even short-term exposure to dogs has beneficial physiological and psychosocial effects on patients.

Personally, I can attest that dogs are a great comfort ... they make people happier, calmer, and feel more loved ... this has to be a huge help when you are scared and not feeling well.

Famed bluesman Bo Diddley (78) is in a Gainesville, FL, hospital following a heart attack. Diddley is famous for ever-cool tunes such as "Who Do You Love" and "I'm a Man." Well, at least he was in the right location: Diddley was actually at the hospital for a checkup when the heart attack struck. This ensured he got prompt care that may very well have saved his life.

It appears Diddley suffered the heart attack on Friday of last week, but it was only announced today. This afternoon a spokeswoman stated that the now-elderly guitar hero felt unwell during his Friday checkup and was transferred to the emergency room, which is where the heart attack occurred. Diddley had surgery soon after to have a stent fitted. This will improve blood flow to the heart. Today he was transferred out of intensive care. As of earlier today his condition was said to be stable but serious.

Interesting factoids: Diddley's real name is Ellas Bates. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. The legendary musician has not been enjoying the best of health lately: he had a stroke in May of this year, which has impaired his speech and speech recognition. He has also lost some of his toes to complications of diabetes.

The list of health benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids seemingly grows every day. Among the more well-known positive effects this fatty acid has on the body is that has been shown to reduce the risk of heart attack by 36 percent when it is consumed at least once or twice a week. Foods that are high in Omega-3s -- such as salmon, brown rice, and olive oil -- can also help to lower your LDL ("bad") cholesterol. But, inasmuch as many of us know this by now, what we don't know is how this actually takes place. What is cholesterol? And how does it effect our bodies? Now I'm not a doctor, and I'm definitely not a scientist, but I am curious -- so I looked it up.

Cholesterol is made by the liver. Just about every animal that is eaten for food produces cholesterol in this manner. After it's produced in your own body, or absorbed from the food you eat, it's then carried through the bloodstream by particles known as lipoproteins. These particles are also produced in the liver, so it kind of works out quite nicely in that way. Anyway, from these lipoproteins are made up of fat and protein. However, what they contain more of determines if they are "bad" or "good." If they contain a higher proportion of fat, they can stick to your blood vessel walls as they speed through your veins and arteries. Over time, this accumulates and forms hardened plaque, thus reducing the flow of blood to your heart -- and hence the "bad" label. On the other hand, lipoproteins that contain a higher proportion of protein serve a different and much healthier function. Their main task is to carry cholesterol away from your heart and out of the body. The higher your levels of this "good" lipoproteins, the lower your risk of dying from a heart attack.

That's just about the best way I can explain it. Not exactly ready for the New England Journal of Medicine, but not bad for a blog post, if I say so myself.

Ever wondered what would happen if you overdosed on Red Bull? Answer: your heart could stop ticking. I am not kidding.

Australian man, Matthew Penbross (28), found that out recently after drinking eight of the super-highly caffeinated beverages during a five hour period. I guess eight is his unlucky number, because after downing that last one he collapsed. An ambulance was called and the first aid crew found Penbross having a heart attack. Realizing his heart had stopped, they had to use a defibrillator to get his heart pumping again.

The obvious question: why was he drinking so much darn Red Bull?? Answer: he was competing in a motocross (motorcycle racing) event and wanted to get his adrenalin pumping. "It was to get a bit of a buzz and keep down my reaction time," says Penbross.

Penbross has gone public since his unfortunate RB-related incident. He says the product should sport a decent warning label. He says that current labels, which warn against consuming more than two cans per day, are inadequate. I guess a brush with death is more of a jolt than he was looking for...

Here's the thing: Penbross admits that prior to the heart attack he'd routinely drink four cans of Red Bull daily, which is twice the recommended maximum. Not only that: he also admits he continued to drink it even after experiencing chest pains. C'mon! I have no sympathy for the guy.

An interesting new study has found that women who stifle their arguments during marriage have a higher instance of maladies. Over a period of 10 years, a study group showed that the woman who remained silent during marital conflict were more likely to die. The women who freely expressed themselves did not suffer the same fates.

The study was conducted to look at behavior, heart disease and mortality rates within the confines of a marital relationship. The study included almost 3,700 men and women in their 40's and 50's. As was predicted, men in marriages had better overall health.

The study reinforces the notion that men and women need to have a healthy, open marriage in order for both partners to live a healthy life.

Sure, I just did an entire post about a new drug (Tekturna), but I still feel it's fair to mention a little something about the side effects of taking prescription drugs. No, I'm not talking about that litany of disgusting physical maladies that are typically rattled off in Micro Machine Man fashion at the end of a drug commercial. Instead, I'm talking about the depletion of nutrients that occurs as a direct result of taking maintenance drugs.

Vasodilators or Beta-Blockers: You may be taking these to help regulate your high blood pressure. If it's helping, great! Keep taking them. But, beware that your consumption of the vasodilators are causing a reduction of vitamin B6 and the beta-blockers are sapping some Coenzyme Q10.

Statins: Yes, statins are a great way to help lower your cholesterol, so do keep taking them if they are working and your doctor suggests that you stick with them. However, please know that the statins also deplete your body of Coenzyme Q10, which can lead to muscle soreness, fatigue, or even elevated liver enzymes.

Diuretics: A popular treatment for hypertension or congestive heart failure. The downside is that they deplete your body of magnesium, zinc, and potassium, which can cause a weakened immunity.

The good news is that you can easily make up for whatever vitamin or mineral you are losing with the medication by simply being sure to eat lean meats, fish, chicken, whole grains, nuts, and leafy green vegetables. And, if you really want to make sure that you're not missing out, you can also talk to your doctor about taking nutritional supplements.

Sometimes, having high blood pressure comes as a bit of a surprise to some people. Whether they find out during a visit to the doctor or even during one of those wacky blood pressure chairs at the grocery store, people who don't think they have high blood pressure are typically quite shocked to learn that they do. Once this fact is accepted, the next step is to find out what can be done to remedy this problem. Medication is always an option, but which one? Well, here's one that may not have heard of yet.

Tekturna. It's a first-of-its-kind drug to be approved by the FDA. The difference between Tekturna and other blood pressure meds is that Tekturna deals with the problem by cutting right to the chase. Basically, it inhibits renin, a kidney enzyme that initiates the chemical process that ultimately leads to an elevated blood pressure. By contrast, all other blood pressure meds work at the later stage, dealing chiefly with regulation and not doing a whole hell of a lot in the way of prevention.

A recent study of 2,000 people offered a demonstrable reduction in blood pressure over the entire year that the study was conducted. Also, it appears as though Tekturna can work just fine when taken in conjunction with other anti-hypertensive meds. And, side effects seem to be minimal, though I would suggest taking the time to investigate further before dialing up your doctor for a prescription.

A solid workout can do wonders in helping you put a stressful day behind you. Apart from the natural "high" people receive from the release of endorphins, new research also points to exercise as a means of protecting the heart from the physical impairment that can be brought on by stress.

In a study conducted at University College London, researchers measured stress levels in middle-age adults. They found that when you are stressed, your body responds by creating inflammatory chemicals that can lead to severe physical damage, including the clogging of your arterial walls. However, the researchers also found that among these middle-age adults, those what were the fittest had one-fifth the amount of chemicals in their blood as those who were fairly inactive.

The key is to find an exercise program that works for you. Magazines and books are great sources for a variety of exercise programs to choose from, but it sometimes takes a little personal trial and error before you find the right one for you and your schedule.

A recent study out of Royal Oak, Michigan found that deer hunters put their hearts under significant strain, and those with cardiovascular disease or certain risk factors may be putting themselves at risk. Twenty five men, 17 of whom had diagnosed cardiovascular disease and eight who had certain risk factors, were given an exercise stress test, then given portable heart monitors to wear in the woods. Researchers found that hiking over rugged terrain, cold weather, adrenaline, and hauling heavy carcasses through the woods pushed hearts above the maximum heart rates reached during the stress test. Three men showed signs of impeded blood flow, and three others (with heart disease) had arrythmias that didn't show up on the treadmill test.

The middle aged men in this study were regularly physically active, and researchers fear that those who are sedentary may put themselves at further risk.

In the last 14 months I have had many thoughts and conversations with my family and friends about the end of life. Before June 20, 2006 I had not given death much thought; everybody in my inner circle has always been very healthy and death was not something that we encountered. But when my seemingly healthy father suddenly died of a heart attack nearly 14 months ago, the subject was blown wide open for me. Losing my dad without any warning at all has been absolutely devastating for my family, but over the last year we have talked to so many families who have watched their loved ones physically or mentally whither away over months or even years. The toll of knowing that an impending death will soon take their family member has broken some but given others time to let go and make peace with the end.

This morning I came upon an article that poignantly addresses this subject. It tells of a wife who cared for her husband as he experienced several strokes and experienced the down slide of perfect health to dementia and, finally, death. The wife describes how difficult it was to see her highly intelligent spouse slip into confusion and paranoia. There were blessed moments of lucidity for both of them, and for these she is deeply grateful. It is a beautiful and touching piece of writing that deserves to be read.

Occasional chest pains can be frightening -- I know because I get them from time to time. I'm only in my mid-20s and I'm healthy so I doubt it's anything to worry about, but sometimes I can't help worrying about the state of my heart.

Chest pains are one of the most important things to share with your doctor, because it can provide him or her with valuable insights into what might be afflicting you. Chest pains can be a sign of a heart attack, angina, inflammation of the heart tissue or a multitude of other things. Chest pains can also be caused by acid reflux, which I suspect in the culprit in my case.

To find out more about chest pains, check out this article.