DID YOU KNOW? - RSVP (the Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme - <a href="http://www.csv-rsvp.org.uk">www.csv-rsvp.org.uk</a> ) says the following could save your life:</em></p> <p><strong>RECOGNISE STROKE symptoms</strong> to prevent unnecessary brain damage and death. We remember the technique as S-A-S: Can the person Smile, raise both Arms, and Speak without problems? If any of these cause any difficulty. DIAL 999 right away. Fast treatment can make all the difference in reducing stroke damage.</p> <p><strong>Surviving a HEART ATTACK</strong>: Sudden chest pain? The pain may possibly but not necessarily be radiating into an arm, your back, your jaw. If you or someone you’re with has a suspected heart attack. RSVP says you have around 10 seconds once the heartbeat becomes irregular and the victim starts to feel faint. In that time (or before) the person should start to breath in as deeply as possible. and cough as hard and long as possible between breaths. Deep breaths get oxygen into the lungs, and the coughing movement squeezes the heart to keep the blood circulating. The squeezing pressure also helps the heart regain its normal rhythm. Obviously also immediately call 999. The person must get to a hospital fast. This technique is to help survive the wait and hopefully not need CPR.</p> <p><strong>NO PAIN, NO GAIN?:</strong> Newspapers have reported that “gentle exercise is over”. Now we must work up a sweat and do weight-training. Apparently the American Heart Association says this is so. We checked. they don’t. In fact they say: “Physical activity doesn't need to be strenuous to bring health benefits. What's important is to include physical activity as part of a regular routine”. The right </p> <p>gentle exercise can improve muscle tone, posture, mood (without the side-effects of anti-depressants), digestion, metabolism, balance and stability, confidence… If you’re not dead you can benefit from some form of exercise. Go to Alliance live on this site, book a workshop, and be pleasantly surprised. 2008-12-10T18:10:59-08:00 1 2008-12-10T18:10:59-08:00