Your Body: The Benefits of Traditional Chinese Exercises

getty_42016_taichi

DigitalVision/ThinkstockBy DR. JENNIFER ASHTON, ABC News Senior Medical Contributor

Traditional Chinese exercises like tai chi tend to improve blood pressure and decrease cholesterol and triglycerides, a new review of past studies finds.

Researchers reviewed 35 studies that included more than 2,000 heart disease patients, mostly in China. They said these exercises, which incorporate mind-body principles and focus on posture coordination of breathing patterns, balance and meditation, seem to offer these benefits.

So how can you get started?

First, see if there are any classes offered near where you live. If not, YouTube it. You can learn pretty much anything on YouTube.

If you can’t find tai chi, start with common yoga meditation or pilates — they’re all in a similar family.

Copyright © 2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.

g_sleepapnea_063025973349

Climate change is making it harder for us to sleep: Study

Roberto Machado Noa/LightRocket via Getty Images (NEW YORK) — Rising temperatures, amplified by climate change, are contributing to an increase in cases of sleep apnea, a condition in which breathing repeatedly stops during sleep, according to a new study published