7 things fitness experts want you to know about exercise during a heatwave
A heatwave is headed to the UK, with parts of the country predicted to be hotter than Marbella, Ibiza and Tenerife. With temperatures likely to soar to 28C, what does this mean for your exercise regime? If you’re tempted to ditch the workouts and head to the nearest beer garden or park instead – or just flop on the sofa with a fan on full blast – we don’t blame you. But if you are keen to keep active, it’s wise to consider how the heat might affect things, and what adjustments you could make in order to stay as comfortable and safe as possible… 1. Exercise early in the morning It tends to be a lot cooler early or late in the day. Omar Mansour, fitness coach and ambassador for audio fitness app WithU, says: “The heat can be really difficult to deal with, so switching your schedule around and making time for your workout in the morning is a good idea. “Whether it’s getting outside before the heat gets into the day, or getting into the gym ahead of the heat and the rush, avoiding workouts in higher temperatures can keep you comfortable, but on track.” 2. Do a home workout Steered away from home workouts now pandemic restrictions have lifted? When it’s mega hot outside, exercising in a cool room at home might make sense – plus you can jump straight into a refreshing shower afterwards. “You don’t always have to go to the gym to get your pump on. With increased temperatures and gyms becoming busier, home workouts are a sure-fire way of prioritising your fitness,” says Mansour. 3. Be a hydration hero Staying hydrated is always important during exercise – but even more so when the sun heats up, when you could be at greater risk of dehydration symptoms, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. “Keeping hydrated during workouts in the heat will help your body do its job, by sweating in order to keep you cool,” says David Wiener, training specialist at AI-based fitness and lifestyle coaching app Freeletics. He suggests thinking about drinking water throughout your workout to “maintain your blood volume levels. This allows you to train and perform better due to the amount of oxygen being pumped around the body.” 4. Switch it up Intense cardio may not always be suitable in the heat, but if you still want the benefits of moving your body – switch things up. “Working out doesn’t always mean working up a massive sweat, and prioritising your mental health is equally as important as prioritising your physical health,” says Mansour. “There are a range of workouts, including yoga, stretching, barre and mindfulness, that allow you to prioritise your physical and mental health without overheating.” 5. Take the pressure off Wiener says it’s OK to make workouts “shorter and slower” when temperatures ramp up. Even with a 15-minute HIIT session, you’ll still be making those gains. 6. Go for cooling kit Fitness clothing needs to be adapted to the time of year – and when the heat is on, it’s all about maximising your ability to stay cool. Wiener advises opting for “breathable, lightweight and light-coloured workout attire that permits sweat to evaporate”. This will also help keep skin irritation and heat rashes at bay, he adds. “It’s also vitally important to wear a hat,” says Wiener – and don’t forget to protect your eyes if you’re out in the sun. 7. Call it quits if it gets too much It really is OK to call it a day early if you need to. As Wiener says: “Be sure to listen to your body. If you start to feel extremely tired, lightheaded, disorientated, or nauseous, you should stop exercising, grab some water and find somewhere cool to sit.” Speak to your GP if you have concerns about any of these symptoms.
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Dr Hilary Jones: Men need to talk about erectile dysfunction
Dr Hilary Jones says it’s important that men talk about erectile dysfunction – as it could be a sign of other underlying health problems. The GP and TV medic wants to encourage people suffering from the issue to see their doctor, as it could be a symptom of diabetes, heart disease or other health problems that need to be properly treated. Erectile dysfunction (ED) is particularly common as men get older, and is believed to affect half of men over 40 and around 26% of men under 40. Yet it is often still a taboo, and as Jones – speaking as an adviser to the Eroxon ED Information Panel (EEDIP) – points out, men are “much less likely to go to see a doctor about something below the waist”. Here’s a look at some of the wider health issues that could be linked with erectile dysfunction… Heart problems Men’s health and sexual function specialist Dr Anand Patel says heart problems are a potential cause of ED, particularly for older men. “Doctors often say it is a heart problem until proven otherwise as you get older, due to the narrowing of blood vessels and damaging of nerves,” Patel explains. “The penis is a blood sac, if your heart isn’t working properly, you won’t be able to fill your penis.” Diabetes Jones says erectile dysfunction “can be a symptom of diabetes” in some cases. So, it’s important to get any warning signs checked out, especially if you have a family history. “We know that diabetes is often present for some considerable time before a diagnosis is made – the symptoms creep up on somebody, and through that time there is damage being done to circulation, blood vessels and nerves. The longer a diagnosis is delayed, the greater the risk of damage,” Jones explains. Mental health problems Erectile dysfunction can also be linked with mental health conditions, including severe and chronic stress. Certain mental health medications can also cause the problem, while ED itself can take a toll on a person’s mental wellbeing too. “There have been cases where men are tortured by their perceived failure to maintain erection, they feel emasculated. Some men find this very difficult to deal with or talk about,” says Jones, who notes that erectile dysfunction can trigger depression in some cases. Urging anyone affected to seek support, he reassures that ED “is eminently treatable – it is not something you need to suffer with in silence”. Obesity Jones adds: “Increasing age is a major factor, as is obesity. Men who are obese have a three times greater risk of suffering from ED.” Obesity can also be a risk factor for diabetes and heart problems, so it’s important to bear it in mind when it comes to overall health. Addiction Both drug and alcohol misuse could be causing ED, says Patel. Plus, there’s another addiction that may also be to blame… “We are now seeing the influence of porn,” says Jones. “For younger men, one of the reasons for this increase in ED is exposure to pornography over longer periods. A third of men are watching porn once a week, one in eight on most days, and in those aged 18-29 almost every day. “The Kinsey Institute has introduced this new classification, pornography-induced ED, which is due to unrealistic expectations in the real world, and huge pressure on men to perform ‘normally’. Pornography is not real,” he adds. If you are struggling with erectile dysfunction, there are numerous treatments available. Seek advice from your doctor. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Judy Murray: More needs to be done to protect athletes from abuses of power Nearly half UK adults believe LGBTQ+ representation important in storytelling – study What to wear to Glastonbury this year
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Judy Murray: More needs to be done to protect athletes from abuses of power
More needs to be done to protect sportswomen from the abuse of power from coaches and other key figures in their professional life, Judy Murray has said. While the tennis coach, and mother of Wimbledon stars Andy and Jamie Murray, welcomed measures taken within the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) – which recently appointed a director of safeguarding in an increased effort to protect professional athletes from predatory coaches – she said further action is needed in the industry as a whole. “I think it’s up to all of the individual governing bodies to have someone in that head of safeguarding role that, whether you’re a coach, a parent, a player or in sports science, when you see something or if something happens to you, you know that that’s the group you go to, that’s the person you speak to, it will be treated in confidence but there will be action taken from it,” Murray told PA Media. “I think we’ve all seen a lot of brushing under the carpet over the years. And often you don’t know who to go to, and even if you do go to someone, you’re concerned: ‘Is it going to affect my selection for the team or my funding?’” The former Scottish No 1 player and long-time coach, 63, was speaking while promoting her debut novel, The Wild Card. The book centres on a fictional professional tennis player, who is manipulated by her coach during her earlier career as a 17-year-old into a sexual relationship, fearing that he will ditch her if she doesn’t comply. “For me, having been round the women’s tour, it’s a very male-dominated domain in terms of the coaches and you realise that the young players in particular, they’re travelling all the time, they’re away from home, the coach becomes a crutch, not just a coach. You actually assume a parent role, a friend role,” Murray added. “It’s very easy for players to become dependent on coaches, and fall into something that they don’t really understand and feel they can’t get out of.” She said she welcomed the wider awareness created by athletes who have come forward about their own experiences, citing the case of multiple Olympic gold medal-winning US gymnast Simone Biles, one of many women sexually abused by former team doctor Larry Nassar (who was subsequently jailed for 40-plus years). “Over the last few years, we’ve seen examples in several sports of players/performers telling about what’s happened to them in terms of abuse of trust and abuse of power, none more so than Simone Biles and other gymnasts with the US doctor, which went on for years,” said Murray. “It [the US gymnasts’ case] encouraged more people to speak out, and highlights the need for ensuring that those in positions of power within sport are suitably qualified, vetted and insured, and also that somebody is accountable to somebody else. “It makes such a big impact when top athletes like Simone Biles speak out about what’s happened to them,” Murray continued. “And it gives confidence to others to come out and talk and to share, and it is about raising awareness. “But at the end of the day, you can raise awareness, but you need somebody to act on that. And that is starting to happen, but it’s probably still in its relative infancy.” The Wild Card by Judy Murray is published by Orion, priced £14.99. Available now. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Nearly half UK adults believe LGBTQ+ representation important in storytelling – study What to wear to Glastonbury this year 11 ways to work white into your interiors
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Emily Blunt explains why her fame is ‘not exciting’ for her and John Krasinski’s children
Emily Blunt has explained why her children don’t really think that it’s “exciting” to have a famous mother. During a recent interview with Harper’s Bazaar, the 40-year-old actor shared her candid thoughts about her life in the spotlight while raising two daughters – Hazel, nine, and Violet, seven – with husband John Krasinski. She noted that, as she has looked back on her career thus far, she doesn’t like to think about her celebrity status. “When I see myself up on a billboard, I have this complete dissociation with it...I’m like, who’s that?” Blunt said. “And I can see my children doing the same.” The Edge of Tomorrow star went on to explain why her daughters aren’t too impressed by their mother’s fame. “They might say, ‘Oh, there’s Mama,’ but it’s not exciting for them,” she said. “What’s exciting for them is when I can pick them up from school and take them swimming.” Blunt proceeded to open up about her family and how spending time with her daughters is a huge priority. She also noted that she tries not to be away from them for too long while working. “Because even though they’re hardy, and they’re used to this strange life, it’s still rough on them when I have to go away,” she continued. The actor then pointed out that there are certain points in her children’s daily routine that she doesn’t want to miss out on. “There are cornerstones of the girls’ day that I don’t want to compromise on – like, will you wake me up, take me to school, pick me up and put me to bed?” she said. “And I just want to be able to say, yes, yes, yes. It’s such an exhale for me to be able to do that.” Over the years, Blunt has shared her children’s thoughts about her career. During an appearance on Live with Kelly and Ryan in 2021, the Quiet Place star said that while her daughters haven’t been interested in watching her movies in the past, there’s one film she’s done that they really enjoyed: Jungle Cruise. “They are usually disinterested in seeing me on screen, but they’re really into Jungle Cruise,” she said. “They love the jaguar. They love DJ [Dwayne Johnson]. They love the dynamic. They love the whole world.” Meanwhile, John Kraskinski – who’s been married to Blunt since 2010 – has also said that their children ended up loving one of his movies: DC League of Super-Pets. “They were laughing very, very hard,” Krasinski explained during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in July 2022. “I think up until now they didn’t actually believe I was in the business, because they’ve never seen anything I’ve done.” Read More Fans gush over Emily Blunt and John Krasinski’s flirty whispers at the SAG Awards: ‘Couple goals’ From their first date to parents of two: A timeline of Emily Blunt and John Krasinski’s relationship John Krasinski reveals he ‘wouldn’t be anywhere’ without wife Emily Blunt Jamie Foxx’s rep addresses conspiracy Covid vaccine left actor ‘paralyzed and blind’ Gamer finds indent in head from prolonged headset use after shaving his hair How to stay safe from wildfire smoke
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