Health
Ditching the lawnmower may have unexpected health benefits, according to experts
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
As more homeowners embrace the trend of “Let It Bloom June” — a natural successor to the popular “No Mow May” movement — there is growing momentum on social media in support of wild lawns.
While these campaigns were launched to support pollinators and biodiversity, some experts claim that skipping the mower could actually be good for your health.
Mowing, raking, digging and lifting might seem like harmless weekend chores, but according to Dr. Michael Policastro, a board-certified emergency physician and medical toxicologist in Cincinnati, Ohio, they can be physically taxing.
BEACH DAYS BENEFIT MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING AS VISITS PROVIDE ‘SEA THERAPY’
“Lawn and garden work is physically demanding and can lead to muscle strains, back pain and joint injuries,” Policastro told Fox News Digital.
The repetitive motions, awkward postures and sometimes heavy loads involved in yard work can strain the body in ways that accumulate over time, the doctor cautioned.
Natural lawns aim to support pollinators and biodiversity, but skipping the mower could also be good for your health. (iStock)
Even the act of pushing a lawnmower may not be as harmless as it looks.
“Vibrations from lawnmowers can strain your lower back, and poor posture while pushing or steering equipment can lead to pain in your back, knees and wrists,” Policastro noted.
ANTI-AGING BENEFITS LINKED TO ONE SURPRISING HEALTH HABIT
Failing to warm up or stretch before tackling the lawn only raises the risk of fatigue or injury, which can result in chronic pain over time.
Chemical pesticides and herbicides involved in lawn care can carry their own set of risks, especially when airborne, Policastro cautioned.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
“Pesticide sprays can also drift in the air, making it easy to breathe in harmful chemicals without realizing it,” he said.
Potential benefits of wild lawns
There could be a psychological upside to ditching the mower and embracing a natural yard.
Several mental health professionals agreed that lively, unmanicured spaces can foster mindfulness and well-being.
“Vibrations from lawnmowers can stress your lower back, and poor posture while steering equipment can lead to pain in your back, knees and wrists,” a doctor cautioned. (iStock)
“Being in a green, natural environment can promote mindfulness and a sense of calm,” Greg Adelstein, a licensed mental health counselor and owner of Ellie Mental Health Clinic in Hollywood, Florida, told Fox News Digital.
“It also provides a sense of accomplishment and purpose, which can boost self-esteem.”
Letting nature reclaim the yard could also mean fewer chemicals and health hazards, some experts say.
PAIN COULD BE REDUCED BY WATCHING NATURE SCENES, NEW STUDY SUGGESTS
Fox News Digital previously reported on a study that linked exposure to nature with a reduction in people’s experience of pain. This suggests the potential health benefits of a more natural lawn that promotes everyday access to wild plants and animals.
“Gardening promotes mindfulness and can lower cortisol levels, helping you feel calmer.”
Natural lawns and gardens can also help combat loneliness by encouraging community engagement through shared gardening or conservation efforts, according to Elena Saldamando, a licensed clinical social worker and director of Ellie Mental Health Clinic in Avalon Park, Florida.
Tips for safer lawn care
Despite the potential risks, tending to a lawn can present some benefits when done safely, experts say.
“Gardening promotes mindfulness and can lower cortisol levels, helping you feel calmer,” Saldamando told Fox News Digital.
“Watching how the light hits a leaf, listening to birds chirp, feeling soil and dirt in your hands, smelling the flowers and seeing vegetables grow can be very grounding.”
Fox News Digital previously reported on a study that linked exposure to nature with a reduction in people’s experience of pain. (iStock)
To reduce the physical strain of mowing and other yard work, Policastro recommended taking regular breaks, using ergonomic tools and maintaining proper posture.
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health
It’s also important to work in a well-ventilated area and to wear a mask or respirator when handling dusty materials or applying chemicals, according to the doctor.
Health
Katie Couric couldn’t remember the year or the president during frightening brain episode
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Journalist Katie Couric is sharing a scary medical episode that she experienced on June 27.
In a post on Substack titled “The Day I’ll Never Remember,” she detailed a sudden episode that left her unable to recall the current month, year and president.
“I thought it was 2024. And I believed Joe Biden was president,” she wrote.
ONE WALKING HABIT COULD SIGNAL A HEALTHIER BRAIN AFTER 80, SCIENTISTS SAY
The event occurred while Couric was attending the Aspen Ideas Festival in Colorado, during which she participated in two public panels — one on AI and one on journalism — both of which she cannot remember at all.
“I have no idea what we talked about, or of what occurred when the panels ended,” she said.
Journalist Katie Couric is sharing a scary medical episode that she experienced on June 27. (Getty Images)
John Molner — Couric’s husband, who was in attendance at the festival and the two panels — also shared his account.
After the event, someone told Molner that Katie wasn’t feeling well. When he reached her, an EMT and a doctor were tending to her. “I could tell something was off,” he wrote. “It could have been altitude sickness, but Katie was definitely not all there.”
WOMAN WITH ADVANCED ALZHEIMER’S REGAINED SPEECH AND MEMORIES AFTER TAKING MAGIC MUSHROOMS
At the hospital, when Couric struggled to recall the year, the president and her grandchildren’s names, doctors began checking for a stroke.
An MRI revealed no signs of stroke, which was a relief, but “Katie’s ‘fog’ became a lot more apparent,” Molner wrote.
John Molner, Couric’s husband, who was in attendance at the festival and the two panels, also shared his account. (Getty Images)
“She repeatedly asked me the same questions: ‘What was I doing before we got to the hospital?’ ‘Why am I at the hospital?’”
Couric was ultimately diagnosed with transient global amnesia, a sudden, temporary episode of memory loss that prevents a person from forming new memories and may also erase some recent memories, according to Mayo Clinic.
“The cause seems to be as mysterious as the brain itself.”
It is not caused by a stroke, seizure or head injury, and it usually resolves completely within 24 hours.
“[It’s] just a very weird neural episode that’s pretty uncommon and, at least in most cases, is a ‘one and done’ experience,” Molner said.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
Couric said she finally began feeling “like herself” again around 9 p.m. and went to sleep at 2 a.m.
As TGA leaves a “permanent gap in memory” for the duration of the episode and for hours beforehand, Couric said that from around noon on that day until at least 7 p.m. will remain a “big, black hole.”
As TGA leaves a “permanent gap in memory” for the duration of the episode and for hours beforehand, Couric said that from around noon on that day until at least 7 p.m. will remain a “big, black hole.” (Getty Images)
Data shows that approximately three to eight people per 100,000 will have an episode of transient global amnesia, with people 50 years of age and older at higher risk.
The specific cause of TGA is not known, but some experts believe it stems from a “temporary dysfunction in the brain’s hippocampus — the area responsible for creating new memories,” Couric shared.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
“Doctors believe this is driven by brief interruptions in blood or oxygen flow, or microscopic spasm in the blood vessels.”
Episodes could potentially be triggered by intense physical exertion, emotional distress, extreme temperature changes or migraines, experts say.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
Approximately 15% of patients will have a recurrence 10 years later.
“Why did this happen to me? Was the altitude an issue? Was I dehydrated? Tired? Stressed? The literature doesn’t seem to indicate that these are contributing factors, but the cause seems to be as mysterious as the brain itself,” Couric wrote.
Anyone who experiences sudden memory loss, confusion, difficulty speaking, weakness, numbness, vision changes, severe headache or other stroke-like symptoms should seek immediate medical attention or call 911, doctors advise. (iStock)
“All I know is that those hours will be forever lost. Someone described it as my brain failing to hit the ‘record button.’”
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
“While this was a freaky occurrence, it could have been much more serious. So ultimately, I’m relieved — even though several hours of a Saturday in June will always be missing for me.”
Anyone who experiences sudden memory loss, confusion, difficulty speaking, weakness, numbness, vision changes, severe headache or other stroke-like symptoms should seek immediate medical attention or call 911, doctors advise.
Health
One walking habit could signal a healthier brain after 80, scientists say
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Older adults identified as “super movers” are about half as likely to develop cognitive impairment than their peers.
That’s according to a recent study led by Stony Brook Medicine in New York, which evaluated the cognitive function of 4,000 adults 80 and over who participated in multiple aging and longevity studies over several years.
Among this group, 6% to 10% were classified as super movers, which means they walk at a much faster pace than others of the same age and gender — at speeds comparable to people three decades younger.
COMMON VITAMIN MAY INFLUENCE BRAIN AGING IN WAYS SCIENTISTS DIDN’T EXPECT
The super movers were found to have about half the risk of cognitive decline compared to seniors with typical gait speed.
The findings were published in the journal Neurology on June 16.
Older adults identified as “super movers” are about half as likely to develop cognitive impairment than their peers. (iStock)
“The study reinforces that mobility and brain health are closely connected,” lead study author Dr. Joe Verghese, MD, neurologist at Stony Brook Medicine, told Fox News Digital. “This suggests that preserving mobility may be an important marker of healthy brain aging and resilience.”
‘LONGEVITY GENE’ MAY PROTECT THE BRAIN FROM ALZHEIMER’S BY BOOSTING DNA REPAIR, STUDY FINDS
The most intriguing finding, according to Verghese, was that super movers maintained cognitive function despite having similar dementia-related brain changes as their peers.
In postmortem brain analysis, there was no difference in dementia-related pathologies between the super movers and the slower walkers, the study stated.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
“This suggests they may possess resilience mechanisms that help preserve brain function even in the presence of age-related changes,” he said. “Understanding these resilience factors could lead to new strategies for promoting healthy brain aging.”
As the study was observational, there were some limitations, and it does not prove that walking faster prevents dementia, the researchers noted.
Super movers were found to have about half the risk of cognitive decline compared to seniors with typical gait speed. (iStock)
“Other factors, such as cardiovascular health, physical fitness or genetics, may also contribute to both faster walking and better cognitive outcomes,” Verghese said.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
This study adds to growing evidence that what’s good for the heart and muscles also benefits the brain, he noted, adding that “staying physically active remains one of the most effective, evidence-based ways to support healthy aging.”
“Walking speed is best viewed as a marker of overall health, not a treatment.”
“The broader message is that physical activity is important at any age,” Verghese said. “Walking is an easy step-up point because you don’t need any special equipment. You can do it inside or outdoors, and you can do it on a regular basis. You can walk with a dog, you can walk with a friend.”
Any activity is beneficial if it’s done regularly and with the right intensity, he added.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
Rather than just trying to walk faster, the neurologist recommends that seniors focus on maintaining mobility through regular physical activity, strength training, balance exercises and good cardiovascular health.
“Walking speed is best viewed as a marker of overall health, not a treatment,” Verghese noted.
Major public health guidelines from the CDC and U.S. Physical Activity Guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week, such as brisk walking.
Major public health guidelines from the CDC and U.S. Physical Activity Guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week, such as brisk walking. (iStock)
This can be achieved by walking 30 minutes a day, five days a week, or about 20 to 25 minutes most days. Another option is to engage in shorter sessions that add up over the day.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
“You have to do it within your health limitations and medical conditions,” Verghese advised. “So if there are any medical concerns, I would get your physician to clear you before starting exercise.” The good thing about walking, he added, is that you can start at a slow pace and then gradually build up to a brisker pace.
“And then adding on strength and balance training, whatever age you are, I think is also important.”
Health
I Tried the Viral Gelatin Weight-Loss Recipe—Here’s My Honest Take
Use left and right arrow keys to navigate between menu items.
Use escape to exit the menu.
Sign Up
Create a free account to access exclusive content, play games, solve puzzles, test your pop-culture knowledge and receive special offers.
Already have an account? Login
-
World7 minutes agoCritics say Turkey’s verbal attacks on Israel have crossed into antisemitism
-
Politics10 minutes agoWATCH: Dana White drops 2028 hints while raving about his favorite Trump cabinet secretary
-
Health15 minutes agoKatie Couric couldn’t remember the year or the president during frightening brain episode
-
Sports22 minutes agoJustin Verlander announces he will retire after this season: ‘I’ve realized that time has come’
-
Technology24 minutes agoApple AI security update proves hackers move fast
-
Business30 minutes agoFire-damaged Pacific Palisades shopping center sets reopening date
-
Entertainment37 minutes agoRhea Seehorn celebrates her ‘Pluribus’ Emmy nomination as she waits to hear about Carol and the atom bomb
-
Lifestyle40 minutes agoUrban Jürgensen: Introducing Elite Watchmaking to New Audiences