FF's and the Risk of an MI

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Firefighters Face Heart Risks-from MSNBC.com

WOW! Talk about concrete evidence of the risks of the job! Wonder if this applies to EMS as well. Also interesting to learn that the risk increases while responding! Well what does everyone think, will this or can this help us reduce preventable LODDs?

[Guest bibbles10504]

That is interesting.... It seems like some of that does involve EMS. If you look at the little chart on page one 9.4% of heart attack deaths are from EMS.

I think the best way to reduce the number of heart attacks and lower LODDs is for people to get in shape and work out

[Guest]

bibbles, you have a good point. However we must go beyond just working out. We need to start eating right and changing our lifestyles. This is no means easy to do, it will take a lot of work but it is something that needs to be done. We need to take care of our bodies. If guys are still eating super sized hamburgers and fries working out will have little effect. lets treat our bodies right. This is far from a little change, it is much easier to say you will do something then to actually do it. I don't want to hijack this thread but maybe we can add some of our own tips to becoming more healthy. whether it be tips on working out or just ways to eat better.

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Diet Versus Exercise

MIKE STEFANO

Firehouse.Com Contributor

The debate rages on. What's most important, a healthy, well-balanced diet or an active lifestyle that incorporates some type of exercise? Let's take a close look at what each can do for us, and at what cost.

Diet Minded

Eat less, weigh less. Simple -right? But from Atkins to the Zone, there's no shortage of nutritional approaches to weight management. Too bad the multi-billion diet industry seems to create more confusion than solutions - a major drawback for those stuck on dieting, spending lots of money, and going nowhere.

Dieting, or temporarily changing one's eating habits in order to shed body fat is at best, a band-aid approach to weight loss. A more sensible method involves taking the time to learn how to eat, what foods are good for you, and what you need to avoid or moderate in your daily diet.

Instead of blindly following the latest fad diet, educate yourself through reading, seeking out a nutritionist, or even consulting your doctor on what's best for you. Eating right can involve a bit of leg-work, but eventually you'll learn that fad and gimmick diets are just a waste of time. See latest nutritional guidelines

Sticking to a sensible eating program can also involve some discipline and sacrifice. Running into the nearest McDonald's whenever time is short and hunger hits is no longer a viable option. But the hundreds of unwanted fat calories you'll avoid, that would have otherwise found their way directly to your hips, will be well worth the sacrifice.

Most experts agree that the best way to reduce body fat is to never let the unwanted calories cross you lips in the first place. The simplicity of this statement is lost on many of us, but you'll be amazed at how much less you need to exercise when you stop eating too much of the wrong foods.

At the same time, nutritional requirements of protein, carbohydrate and yes, even fat, must be met. You also need minimum daily requirements of vitamins and minerals, as well as plenty of water and fiber. This is where the self-education really kicks in, --out and out starvation just won't work, and can lead to serious eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia.

But don't forget about the fringe benefits of eating sensibly. The resulting lowered cholesterol and tryglyceride levels reduces your risk of heart disease, while stable blood sugar minimizes your risk of diabetes and its associate problems. Your risk of developing certain types of cancer is also significantly lessened.

Exercise Ecstasy

To date exercise is the closest we've come to finding the fountain of youth. Exercise can change the way you look, feel, and perform, as well as have a tremendously positive impact on your health and almost every aspect of your life. But it isn't all good news.

For an exercise program to get results, you need to set aside a certain amount of time and energy! Running yourself into the ground, working long hours, and not sleeping right hardly makes for the ideal scenario. Here too the solution involves a bit of self-education, discipline, and prioritizing. You'll need to take a realistic look at how much time you can devote to an exercise program, and restructure your daily schedule accordingly. The key to success is formulating a plan that doesn't waste your time and effort doing the wrong thing.

Another hazard to avoid when taking to the gym is exercising too much, or over training. This can sabotage the most well intentioned novice or seasoned athlete. Over training can also make you make you sick, or set you up for an overuse injury. A comprehensive plan based on sound knowledge will help steer you clear of this all too common problem.

The cost of gym equipment and a health club membership represent another drawback to the active approach to weight loss. Fortunately, it's not the cost of the equipment that gets results. Experts have found that exercises done with simple dumbbells can be just as, or even more effective than exercises done with sophisticated machines, like those you'll find at any health club.

Setting up a simple, economical home gym will also help overcome some of the time limitations by cutting out travel to and from the gym. With a small initial investment and a few square feet of floor space, you can add convenience to the list of why an exercise program can be so effective. See related article on home gym essentials

Conclusion

A well balanced diet will fuel your workouts and supply your growing muscles with much needed nutrients, while at the same time requiring you to workout less. Exercise will burn excess calories, rev up your metabolism and allow you to eat more without gaining weight. It's a win-win situation. For the best of both worlds, don't choose between diet and exercise, take the comprehensive approach and allow the two to support one another.

Michael Stefano is a 20-year veteran of New York City Fire Department, currently serving in the rank of captain, as well as author of The Firefighter's Workout Book, and creator of the Firefighter's Workout video.

He has been developing exercise programs for the firefighters he's worked with and the general public for the past seventeen years. His workout routines and articles have been featured on such internet giants as America Online, Yahoo!, eDiets, and iVillage.

"To find out more about The Firefighter's Workout Book, or get more of Captain Mike's fat burning, muscle building workouts, go to: www.firefightersworkout.com.

Credit: Firehouse.com

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The fact is heart disease is the leading cause of death of all Americans, men and women. It is surely the leading cause of death amongst fire fighters. American is one of the most obese nations. In 2005, the US government decided to change diet recommendations. They are pretty good. It went along with a new food guide pyramid that includes physical activity as part of the equation when it comes to your caloric intake. The fact of the matter what ever fad diet you try, you'll eventually go back to your old bad habits because it is not teaching proper nutrition. It is teaching a temperay fix to a long term problem. Behavior modification is the only way people can really get healthier. Check out the web site www.mypyramid.gov

Firefighters are at an even higher risk for many reasons. Think it about it, you are sitting at home relaxing and you get called out to a working fire. Your body is expected to work to a high level without any warm up or preparation for the work. Then you are adding 35-50 pounds of equipment, between PPE and tools. Then the turnourt gear that you wear is there to keep you safe and not let the heat get to you. But where does your body heat go when you body trys to cool its self down? It can't get out either which raises your body core temp, which essentially over works your heart.

A proper exercise and nutrition program should be available to all firefighters, and all emergency works for that matter. This should be something that fire departments spend time and money on to protect thier own. Unfortunately that is rarely a focus of fire departments. It will lead to happier and healthy workers!

Believe it or not, the new exercise recommendations have changed significantly. The recommendations from the USDA, 60 minutes, 7 days a week is ideal for lowering risk for chronic diease and gradual weight gain. 60-90 minutes, 7 days per week for significant weight loss. That is a lot of time and it's important to get it!