May 1-7 is Clean Air Week. Busy roads in Sacramento boost your blood pressure. In your pursuit of green health in Sacramento, where can you safely walk without raising your risk of hypertension, heart disease, neurodegenerative issues, or heart attack--due to the heavy traffic and air pollution? What environmental factors in Sacramento raise your risk of getting Parkinson's disease?
It's air pollution, especially Sacramento's air pollution. And worse yet is the entire Central Valley's air pollution risk. How do you overcome air pollution in your quest for local green health? It's not just about putting an air filter in your residence. For nondrivers just waiting at the bus stop exposes you to heavy traffic-caused air pollution, especially in Sacramento where numerous bus lines run only once an hour.
So where can you safely walk in Sacramento without the fumes from heavy traffic seeping into the city's residential side streets? Sacramento's heavy air pollution also raises your risk of heart disease and other heart problems if you live near a freeway or any area of heavy traffic.
Do you live on a street one block from another street with heavy traffic that cars turn down to avoid traffic-congested avenues? No matter how green and quiet your street seems, you're breathing the tiniest air pollution particles that go right to your heart, literally, and your brain.
You'll see in Sacramento quiet little streets that seem silent, but only a block away is heavy traffic such as living near the bumper-to-bumper traffic off of Watt Avenue or Marconi or where El Camino Avenue intersects Watt Avenue, or where Howe Avenue meets Fair Oaks Boulevard.
The heavy traffic pollutes the air, which then wafts to those silent little streets with private homes and many trees. The trees fool you, making you think you're safe and out among greenery, perhaps near a creek.
Then you're surprised when the air pollution's tiny particles get between your cells or into your blood and organs. The actual cause of Parkinson's disease remains unknown. See the November 4, 2010 Los Angeles Times article by Mary Forgione, "Studies examine environmental factors that may be linked to higher risk of Parkinson's." According to that article, the environmental factors mentioned are air pollutants in various urban areas that may increase the risk.
According to the LA Times article, the Health Notes blog of the Newport News Daily Press reports on a new analysis that identifies high levels of manganese and copper pollution as potential risk factors for some city dwellers. For example, people living in areas with higher levels of manganese pollution had a 78% greater risk of having Parkinson's than those who didn't, according to the Washington University in St. Louis report.
It's not just copper and manganese excesses in the polluted air of some urban areas, but pesticide exposure also raises the risk of getting Parkinson's disease. And people working on farms, ranches, or in rural areas can get exposure just living out in the country, working on farms, or drinking well water that's full of pesticides running off of farms.
You might want to find out more about Parkinson's researach. Michael J. Fox is funding various projects. Fox is the founder of the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research,. The Foundation recently launched a five-year study to identify biomarkers of the progression of Parkinson's disease.
Michael J. Fox has had Parkinson's for almost 19 years, since he turned 30. Check out the article reporting how the Chicago Tribune explores one hospital's participation in the new study in "Northwestern seeks clues to Parkinson's."
Also check out the Los Angeles Times' Greenspace blog which notes that: "Rural residents who drink from private wells are up to twice as likely to develop Parkinson's from certain pesticides, including methomyl, chlorpyrifos and propargite, according to a recent UCLA. People with Parkinson's were more likely to have consumed water from private wells, and had done so for 4.3 years longer on average than people who did not have the disease, the study revealed.
Also, if you live in Sacramento near a freeway, (or any other area near a freeway) your risk of heart disease may go up. Check out the article, Study: Living Near Freeway May Be Hard On Heart - wbztv.com.
Tests showed that microscopic particles in the air, rather than ozone gases, caused a rise in blood pressure and impaired blood vessel function, according to the HealthDay September 14, 2009 article, "Air Pollution May Raise Blood Pressure - Inhaling microscopic particles could raise risk of heart disease, study finds." (Source: University of Michigan, news release, September 2009).
Breathing polluted air for even two hours can boost blood pressure, potentially raising the risk of cardiovascular disease in those exposed to smog, a new study suggests. The problem with breathing Sacramento's heavily-polluted air in certain parts of the city, could negate the good effects of nutrition and exercise. Also see: Busy Roads Boost Blood Pressure.
Although the increase may not mean much for healthy people, "this small increase may actually be able to a trigger a heart attack or stroke," study author Dr. Robert D. Brook, an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Michigan, said in a university news release.
An estimated nearly one in three Americans suffer from high blood pressure, meaning the heart is straining to push blood through the circulatory system. But can getting an air purifier in your home or working at home help?
Or is the air pollution--breathing the tiniest particles--the cause of your hypertension? What do you do when your doctors can't find other causes, you've cut down on salt if you're sensitive to it like 60 percent of those with essential hypertension are, and you've started your green juices regimen or a raw, vegan diet for a few weeks to see what happens? Can air pollution in the area spoil your healthy eating plan?
In the study, which appears in a recent issue of Hypertension, researchers tested 83 people as they breathed levels of air pollution similar to those in an urban city near a roadway.
"We looked at their blood vessels and then their responses before and after breathing high levels of air pollution," study co-author Robert Bard, a University of Michigan clinic research coordinator, said in a news release.
The air pollution caused diastolic pressure -- the lower number in a blood pressure reading -- to rise within two hours. Blood vessels were impaired for as long as 24 hours. "If air pollution levels are forecasted to be high, those with heart disease, diabetes or lung disease should avoid unnecessary outdoor activity," Brook said.
Living next to busy roads also may be bad for your blood pressure, a new study suggests. If you look at the recent Swedish study - see: Busy Roads Boost Blood Pressure, performed by a team of scientists from Lund University Hospital, the data from nearly 28,000 questionnaires about people's living arrangements in Scania, a province in southern Sweden, found that living close enough to traffic noise to hear it also raised blood pressure in younger people.
The scientists found that young and middle-aged people who lived in homes where they were exposed to traffic noise above 60 decibels were more likely to have high blood pressure. The association with hypertension got stronger as the decibel level went up.
If you cut to your own large city in areas such as a house a half block off a main street, where you live a block or so from heavy traffic, you now you have a combination of heavy air pollution from small particles rather than ozone, and you hear the traffic noise on those side streets only half a block from areas of heavy traffic and congested streets. You're hearing the noise, and at the same time you're breathing the small particles. And you wonder why your nutrition regimens are not working right?
For bus riders, and those who must walk in the curbs to and from supermarkets and other shopping malls along streets without sidewalks, the air pollution increases for nondrivers as well as their only free form of exercise is walking next to heavy traffic.
Some urban gyms also are located next to streets with heavy air pollution and traffic. Older nondrivers in Arden Arcade aren't going to take a daily two-hour bus ride to Davis, where there is less small particle air pollution on some days.
When it comes to decibel levels of noise, in the Swedish study, among older people aged 60 to 80, higher decibel levels weren't linked to more hypertension. One reason for the finding could be that younger people are less likely to have high blood pressure, making the impact from traffic noise more evident. For mature people, the small particles of air pollution is especially toxic.
Older people who aren't physically able to move from houses they've lived in for many years, may be breathing the smaller particles that are related to higher blood pressure and heart disease, strokes, and coronary problems caused by the smaller particles of air pollution getting into their bloodstream and organs. Also see the HealthDay news articles: " Combat Exposure Tied to Chronic High Blood Pressure," and " Air Pollution May Raise Blood Pressure."
Where Can You Safely Walk in Sacramento?
Where can you walk in Sacramento when there aren't any sidewalks and heavy traffic is passing you on the left with small particulate air pollution? Is walking indoors at shopping malls the healthiest way to walk? Or are you better off walking in place at home and perhaps using an air filter that doesn't give off ozone? Check out my downloadable e-book, How to Open a Walking Tour Business.
You are supposed to walk 10,000 steps a day for health. But if you walk in Sacramento, particularly around the rush hour or between noon and 2:00 p.m., you'll be breathing in all those exhaust fumes. See the article, "BBC NEWS | Health | Heavy traffic bad for your heart."
For example, one scientific study found that "people caught in traffic are three times more likely to have a heart attack within one hour than those who are not stuck in a jam." Also see the July 9, 2010 article, "Traffic Pollution Linked to Risk Factor for Sudden Cardiac Death."
If you live in Sacramento, you know how heavy the traffic and air pollution is most of the day, especially along Watt, El Camino, and Marconi Avenues. Although the Surgeon General recommended you walk a minimum of 10,000 steps a day or five miles per day, not everyone can do it because of pre-existing health issues.
And some of those health issues might be due to advanced age, various illnesses, or even from leading a sedentary lifestyle, according to an October 20, 2009 news report from TrekDesk, a company that has come up with a new solution for sedentary employees--a workstation at your desk where you can walk as you work. While the healthcare debate rages on, there is a means for you to take personal control over your health.
You don't have to leave the office or home to do it. If you sit in chairs during the day, you might appreciate learning about the new idea of desk treadmills. See the new Treadmill Desk video on trekking at your desk. Sedentary desk jobs are robbing adults of their health and are one of the leading causes of rising adult obesity rates, now at 18.7% according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Only clean-air Colorado’s obesity rate is the lowest in the nation, but what happened in Colorado now is that it has shown the fastest percentage gain than any state with the exception of Virginia in the past 15 years. If you can't get outside to walk because of polluted air, traffic, or a sedentary desk job, perhaps walking at your desk might help.
TrekDesk offers the first affordable solution that gets employees up and moving, garnering national attention at a time when health care costs and obesity rates are spiraling out of control. Benefits derived by walking during work hours along with the agencies that published the studies:
33-70% reduction in the rates of most cancers (National Institutes of Health)
90% reduction in the number of initial heart attacks (American Heart Association)
50% reduction in the risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes (American Diabetes Association)
70% reduction in the risk of stroke (American Heart Association)
Nearly 2/3 of our nation’s population is overweight with 50% of this number classified clinically obese. At a time when our nation is turning their attention to health care reform a few strong voices are rallying the cry for workplace and lifestyle reform as a critical piece of the puzzle.
A company known as TrekDesk has designed and is currently selling a unique, affordable solution that has been proven to help employees lose weight, restore health, prevent disease, improve mood and boost productivity: all without ever leaving the office. The only issue is that you need a treadmill in the first place. TrekDesk is a full sized, height adjustable work station which attaches to existing treadmills allowing employees the opportunity to walk slowly while they work without sweating.
Sound bizarre? The human body has evolved with the ability to walk 30 miles per day and its internal health systems are dependent upon walking to keep it in top form. Most American walk on average only 2 miles per day not allowing the body to maintain health or proper weight levels. Sedentary jobs and lifestyles are the main culprit and treadmill desks offer an solution.
Treadmill desks are already in use by major corporations such as GlaxoSmithKline, Humana, Mutual of Omaha and Best Buy however their average cost ranges between $4500-$6500, well beyond the budget of most companies and individuals. TrekDesk however costs less than 1/3 of an average monthly health insurance premium. Priced at $479, TrekDesk is currently shipping free through out the United States.
The health benefits of walking during the day are backed by years of solid medical evidence. Here are some interesting statistics on the benefits derived by walking during work hours along with the agencies that published the studies:
33-70% reduction in the rates of most cancers (National Institutes of Health)
90% reduction in the number of initial heart attacks (American Heart Association)
50% reduction in the risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes (American Diabetes Association)
70% reduction in the risk of stroke (American Heart Association)
Is walking along any of the river walkways in Sacramento the healthiest place to walk? Or is walking in your neighborhood safest, even if there are no sidewalks and heavy traffic in front of your home or just around the corner?
The National Institutes of Health reports that 84% of ALL medical claims are the direct result of a lack of exercise and poor diet/lifestyle choices. Obesity related claims are costing our health care system in excess of $100 Billion annually. References to the medical reports proving the health benefits of treadmill desks can be found at the TrekDesk website.
Heeding the Surgeon General’s recommendations to walk a minimum of 10,000 steps or about 5 miles per day would have a dramatic impact on the nation’s health reform landscape. TrekDesk allows employees to meet this goal in as little as 2.5-3 hours per day while they work.
Due to being sedentary and seventyish, this author walked a slow, 13,114 regular steps today along the curb as many of the streets in my neighborhood have few sidewalks. And my Omron pedometer noted that I walked 4.13 miles, 7,772 aerobic steps, and burned 228 calories. The heavy traffic along the street felt threatening, even though the newspaper said the air quality today was good.
In spite of the muddy curbs and teenage males followed by younger kids on bikes riding on the sidewalk not in the bike lane, tailgating me when the few narrow sidewalks became available, the walk had very good results. My back pain from usually sitting up to12 hours a day in front of a computer is gone.
Whatever you choose, treadmill, walking outside, or the safer way, walking through indoor shopping malls, get moving for your health, if your doctor advises you to walk for exercise. Shopping mall walking also is a good way to walk without breathing in the heavy traffic pollution as you walk along the curb where there are no sidewalks.
You could join a gym, go to the "Y," link up with a community center's walking program, take a chair exercise course, or solve your walking issues at home or at work with a treadmill that you can use at your desk, maybe even create a cleaner environment with an air purifier as you walk indoors. Perhaps Sacramento should have more sidewalks and spaces for walking safely without bikes tailgating the slower walkers.
Resources
Researchers Perfect the View of Heart Disease
Angina Often Affects Quality of Life
Exercise Benefits Even the Oldest Old
Busy Roads Boost Blood Pressure
Los Angeles Times, Nov. 4, 2010: "Studies examine environmental factors that may be linked to higher risk of Parkinson's."
For more info: browse my books, How Nutrigenomics Fights Childhood Type 2 Diabetes & Weight Issues (2009) or Predictive Medicine for Rookies (2005). Or see my books, How to Safely Tailor Your Foods, Medicines, & Cosmetics to Your Genes (2003) or How to Interpret Family History & Ancestry DNA Test Results for Beginners (2004) or How to Open DNA-driven Genealogy Reporting & Interpreting Businesses. (2007). Check out my free audio lecture on Internet Archive, How nutrigenomics fights childhood type 2 diabetes.
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