Three easy ways to prevent fainting spells
Fainting isn't as common as old movies make it out to be. But it can happen.
Fainting episodes -- called vasovagal syncope -- are often caused by a nerve reflex that reduces your heart rate and lowers your blood pressure, causing blood vessels in the legs to dilate. Then, blood flow to your brain decreases, ultimately causing you to faint. Most of the time it's not considered serious or life threatening. But it's certainly not good for you -- especially if it happens on a regular basis.
There are a few exercises you can do to prevent these fainting spells from coming on, though.
Exercise #1: Clasp your hands, interlocking your fingertips, and pull your elbows in opposite directions.
Exercise #2: Clench your arm tightly while squeezing a ball.
Exercise #3: While standing up, press your thighs against each other while tensing your abdominal muscles.
For each exercise, hold the positions and count to three then relax. Repeat these exercises five times each. Experiment, trying one or more of these exercises any time you feel light-headed. For some people, one of these exercises may work alone. Just keep trying until you find the exercise, or series of exercises, that works best for you. And, meanwhile, make sure that you let your doctor know that you're getting fainting spells.
In a recent study, people who used these exercises had about 20 percent fewer recurrences of their fainting spells than people who didn't do them.
Chocolate milk speeds recovery
It sounds too good to be true-an old-time favorite among grade school kids everywhere that is just as good after exercise as Gatorade. But, in fact, a recent study showed that people who drink chocolate milk have a quicker recovery time after intense exercise.
The study tracked nine endurance cyclists over a three-day period. The bicyclists who drank chocolate milk in the break between trips showed fewer symptoms of exhaustion, better heart rates, and didn't need to work as hard to get where they were going.
It makes sense if you think about it: The chocolate can give you a quick energy spike to help get you back into the swing of things. Chocolate is also full of antioxidants, which are a good idea after heavy exercise that can increase oxidative stress (which causes inflammation) in the body. And since the milk itself is high in protein, and since your body absorbs it more gently, it gives you more energy over a longer period of time than sugary sports drinks.
Also, previous research has shown that a combination of good carbs and protein, along with just a little fat, can speed your recovery from exercise, actually helping your tissues to repair themselves more quickly.
Since it can spoil if it's not kept cold, I wouldn't necessarily recommend toting chocolate milk with you to the gym or on a hike. But, when you get home, it might make the perfect energy booster after you exercise.
