When I’m working from home, I’ll sometimes spot a dust bunny or notice the kitchen table needs wiping down. And then what do you know, I can’t seem to focus until the bunnies are dusted and the table is squeaky clean.
Performing such activities is bad for my deadlines, but good for my health. In fact, low intensity activities like household chores or walking to the store usually play a bigger role in calorie burning than working out, even for people who exercise regularly. Researchers refer to the impact of such activities as NEAT – non-exercise activity thermogenesis.
James Levine, an endocrinologist who pioneered research on NEAT, has carefully measured the energy costs of daily activities. Even little movements like chewing gum or fidgeting at your desk can get you burning more calories than you would sitting still. A gentle stroll can double your metabolic rate. Want to up your NEAT? Try to push back against the shortcuts that technology affords us. Walk instead of drive, take the stairs rather than the elevator, head to the grocery store rather than scheduling a delivery. Learn more about low-key ways to burn calories.
Right now in most places in the U.S., you can break a sweat just standing outside or sitting in a room without air conditioning. Perspiration is your body’s natural cooling system, but that system can only do so much, especially in soaring temperatures with high humidity.
It’s scary to think about, but extreme heat kills more Americans per year than floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes combined. And the CDC is reporting high rates of heat-related illness this summer.
You probably know it’s important to drink lots of fluids to replace the water your body is losing through sweat. But even if you’re fit and hydrated, your body’s natural reaction to heat can be your undoing in extreme temperatures. For example, in high heat the body pumps more blood to the skin to cool it down, which can result in heart rate spikes and even heart attack.
If you’re out in the heat, experts who spoke with NPR recommend watching for the first signs of heat exhaustion, and going somewhere you can cool down ASAP. Here’s what to know.
More from NPR on staying safe and (relatively) comfortable in high heat:
5 tips to keep your pet safe — and comfortable — in extreme heat
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When Thomas Greene had a procedure to dilate a clogged artery in his leg, he expected that between Medicare and a supplement plan, he would be completely covered. And his statement from Medicare showed $0 owed. But a year later, he received a notice in the mail from a collections agency representing the anesthesia group that had sent a nurse and an anesthesiologist to his procedure.
Turns out, the anesthesia group was so late in sending the bill that Medicare denied it. So was Greene really on the hook for the $3,000? Was it necessary to charge for a nurse anesthesiologist and an anesthesiologist? And what should you do if you find yourself in a similar predicament? Find out in the latest edition of Bill of the Month, an investigative series from NPR and KFF Health News.
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