Authors: Jörg Blech
Sex and reproductive systems
impact of bed rest on
male potency, exercise and
type 2 diabetes and
Skin, impact of bed rest on
Slow-twitch oxidative muscles
South Carolina, University of in Columbia
Spinal fusion surgery
Stanford University
Stem cells
Stress
Stroke
Sydney, University of
Tai chi
Television
Alzheimer’s disease and
average time children watch
as a substitute for physical activity, need to avoid
type 2 diabetes and
Tennessee, University of in Knoxville
Testosterone
Texas, University of
M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
Southwestern Medical Center
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Thompson, Paul D.
Tryptophan
Tufts University
Ulrich, Cornelia
United States
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, rate of
average caloric intake in
diabetes prevalence in
obese, percentage of the population that is
treatment for sedentary persons, cost of
University Hospital (Cologne, Germany)
University Hospital (Freiburg, Germany)
University Hospital (Göttingen, Germany)
University Hospital (Leipzig, Germany)
University Hospital (Marburg, Germany)
University Hospital (Saarland, Germany)
Untrained heart
Urinary passages, impact of bed rest on
van Praag, Henriette
Vermont College of Medicine, University of
Viagra
Voelcker-Rehage, Claudia
Volkow, Nora
Waddell, Gordon
Waitz, Grete
Washington, University of in Seattle
Weinstein, James
Westerlind, Kim
White, Paul Dudley
Williams, George
Williams, R. Sanders
Witten/Herdecke, University
Wolff, Julius
Wolff’s law (law of the bone transformation)
World Health Organization
Yale School of Medicine
Yale University
YMCA (Seattle, Washington)
Zegelin, Angelika
Jörg Blech, a native of Cologne, Germany, received his diploma in molecular biology from the University of Cologne in 1993. After studies in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Sussex, England, he trained in journalism and was awarded internships in Paris, Washington DC, and Bangkok. He was science reporter for
Stern
magazine, the weekly newspaper
Die Zeit,
and since 1999 has been a staff writer at Europe’s largest weekly news magazine,
Der Spiegel
. In 2005 he established the Boston bureau of
Der Spiegel
and was appointed science correspondent. His five best-selling books for a general audience have been excerpted in
Der Spiegel
,
Facts
magazine (Switzerland
), Profil
magazine (Austria),
El Pais
daily (Spain),
New Scientist,
and
The Guardian
. His book
Inventing Disease and Pushing Pills
has been published in a dozen languages. Jörg Blech lives with his wife and their three children in Arlington, Massachusetts.
Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their products are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book and Da Capo Press was aware of a trademark claim, the designations have been
Translation copyright © 2009 by Jörg Blech
Originally published as “Heilen mit Bewegung” by S. Fischer Verlag: Copyright © 2009 by S. Fischer Verlag, Frankfurt am Main. The book was revised and updated for this edition.
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Set in 12 point Minion by the Perseus Books Group
Cataloging-in-Publication data for this book is available from the Library of Congress.
First Da Capo Press edition 2009
Published as a Merloyd Lawrence Book by Da Capo Press
A Member of the Perseus Books Group
www.dacapopress.com
Note: The information in this book is true and complete to the best of our knowledge. This book is intended only as an informative guide for those wishing to know more about health issues. In no way is this book intended to replace, countermand, or conflict with the advice given to you by your own physician. The ultimate decision concerning care should be made between you and your doctor. We strongly recommend you follow his or her advice. Information in this book is general and is offered with no guarantees on the part of the authors or Da Capo Press. The authors and publisher disclaim all liability in connection with the use of this book. The names and identifying details of people associated with events described in this book have been changed. Any similarity to actual persons is coincidental.
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Table of Contents
Chapter 1 - The Healing Power of Exercise
EXERCISE AS MEDICINE
KEEP MOVING TO LIVE LONGER
OUTDATED ADVICE
Chapter 2 - The Dangers of Going to Bed
A DANGEROUS PRESCRIPTION
WASTING AWAY IN OUTER SPACE
WHILE THE BODY RESTS
PREMATURE AGING
Chapter 3 - Unemployed Bodies, New Diseases
STUCK IN OUR CHAIRS
OFF THE CHARTS
Chapter 4 - Walking Off Diabetes
A GLOBAL EPIDEMIC
EXERCISE TO TREAT DIABETES
Chapter 5 - Muscles and Metabolism
NEVER TOO LATE
ACTIVATING GENES
TRANSFORMING THE BODY
Chapter 6 - What the Heart Desires
SPORTS AS MEDICATION FOR THE HEART
OPENING UP BLOOD VESSELS
NEW ARTERIES FROM STEM CELLS
FRESH POWER FOR EXHAUSTED HEARTS
STRENGTHENING RATHER THAN REPLACING JOINTS
RUNNING WITHOUT REMORSE
BEING RESTLESS, FIGHTING RHEUMATISM
FITNESS FOR FIBROMYALGIA
HOPE FOR CHRONIC FATIGUE
INACTIVITY AND OSTEOPOROSIS
Chapter 8 - A Sporting Cure for Back Pain
SORE BACK TODAY, DISABLED TOMORROW?
THE CULPRIT: DETERIORATING MUSCLES
MENDING THE MIND, MENDING THE BACK
AEROBICS FOR A FIT BACK
Chapter 9 - Exercise and Brain Power
BUILDING THE BRAIN THROUGH MOTION
GAMES, NOT PILLS, FOR ADHD
Chapter 10 - Lifting the Spirit
FROM THE COUCH TO THE TREADMILL
PLAYING AGAINST PANIC
SOUND BODY FOR A SOUND MIND
TRAINING IS THE BETTER PILL
Chapter 11 - A Fountain of Youth in the Brain
NEUROGENESIS: NEW NERVE CELLS IN THE BRAIN
THE MYTH OF THE STATIC BRAIN
BRAIN FITNESS
Chapter 12 - Cancer: A Growing Case for Exercise
BODY FAT AND DANGEROUS HORMONE LEVELS
EXERCISE AS CANCER PREVENTION
BMI AND CANCER
EXERCISE AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN CANCER PATIENTS
EXERCISE AND SURVIVAL
Chapter 13 - Longevity, Potency, and Resilience
WORKING OUT FOR POTENCY
STRIKING BACK AT STRESS
MORE HEALTHY DAYS
Chapter 14 - Panacea for Every Day
BUT WHAT ABOUT GENES?
A NEGLECTED REMEDY
LESS IS MORE
FIT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN FAT
A WAY OF LIFE
THE GLOBAL CHALLENGE