Happy Friday!
Or rather, Happy Livelong Women’s Health Summit weekend!
It's hard to pick the session we're most excited about, but Jane Fonda seems like a great place to start! She’ll take the main stage this afternoon to talk about reinvention, purpose, and why getting older can feel more like freedom than a finish line. Bobbi Brown continues the pro-aging energy with a talk about new beginnings at any age.
In this issue, we're covering how your heart can bounce back after a heart attack, how many whole grains your heart might want each day, and why 100 people screamed at the ocean. Here's to a big day!
Today’s headlines:
Heart rehab works, even from your living room
The magic number of whole grains your heart wants
Your bone supplements might be slacking off
Why 100 people screamed at the ocean
Which of these is a guaranteed whole grain?
Spotlight
Cardiac rehab after a heart attack may help prevent the next one
A new review finds cardiac rehab cuts heart attacks by 28%.
Following a heart attack or heart procedure, many people stop moving, worried that exercise could trigger another event. But new research suggests the opposite might be true.
What researchers found
Researchers from the University of Glasgow found that among 27,000 patients with heart disease, those who participated in a cardiac rehab program experienced longer-lasting health benefits compared to those who did not participate in any rehab program.
These programs often include walking, stationary cycling, and circuit training, though newer programs are even experimenting with tai chi and yoga.
They observed:
28% fewer heart attacks among those who did cardiac rehab.
35% lower risk of hospitalization for any reason
Higher physical function, vitality, and mental well-being.
Home- and app-based programs might also be an effective alternative to in-person rehab at a hospital or clinic.
Why this matters
More than half of eligible heart patients skip cardiac rehab.
Older patients often cite a lack of transportation or caretaking duties as reasons to skip care, but digital programs can remove these barriers. Accessible care means less risk of future hospitalizations and heart attacks.
The takeaway
If you or a loved one has had a heart attack or heart procedure, ask your doctor about cardiac rehab, including home-based options, to help your heart bounce back stronger.
Wellness Watch
Your heart wants seconds on whole grains
You’ve probably heard that whole grains are heart-healthy, but few of us know how many servings make a difference. Recent research now puts a number to it.
What researchers found
The new study showed that four to six servings of whole grains a day may be enough to experience heart-healthy benefits.
In context, this could look like a bowl of oatmeal, a whole-grain sandwich, and a side of brown rice.
During the study, which included more than 6,500 people and was published in the European Heart Journal, researchers specifically found that higher whole grain consumption was linked to lower weight, waist size, cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure, and inflammation. Not bad, right?
Why this matters
Current U.S. dietary guidelines recommend just two to four servings of whole grains, even though heart disease risk climbs as we age. Each benefit or additional serving may look small on its own. But together, those changes could improve heart health risk factors.
The takeaway: Consider adding one whole grain to every meal. If you need inspiration, try this roasted vegetable farro bowl from the American Heart Association.
Is that a whole grain?
What whole grains can (or can’t) you count on?
YES: Oats, brown rice, quinoa, and even popcorn make the cut.
NO: White rice, "enriched" flour, and most bread labeled just "wheat" or "multigrain" don't cut it.
MAYBE: Pasta is a curveball. A "whole grain" label can mean a blend of whole and refined flour, so look for "100% whole wheat" or "100% whole grain."
In other news
Are your daily calcium and vitamin D supplements actually protecting your bones?
Plenty of us take calcium and vitamin D to protect against bone fractures, but a new review in The BMJ suggests those pills might not be doing as much as we think.
After analyzing nearly 154,000 adults, most in their 60s and 70s, researchers found that calcium, vitamin D, or the two combined may not meaningfully reduce the risk of fractures or falls.
The caveat: These findings excluded people taking osteoporosis medication, and the review couldn’t answer whether supplements help people with a diagnosed vitamin D deficiency, osteoporosis, or other bone-health conditions. If a clinician recommended them for a specific reason, don’t stop on your own.
Here’s what you can do today:
This doesn’t mean that calcium and vitamin D aren’t important for bone health; instead, daily supplements may not be the insurance policy many of us have been led to believe. We’ll stay tuned for more research.
Ask your doctor if you still need your supplements
Prioritize strength and balancing exercises, which have stronger evidence for preventing fractures and falls.
Fall-proof your home with brighter lighting, fewer loose rugs, and grab bars—it's all about prevention!
Short longevity hits
Your brain makes opioids: Researchers discovered one that helps you achieve goals.
Two brains > one: Groundbreaking research suggests the brain’s two hemispheres function more like two organs. The discovery could help advance neurodegenerative research.
Stem cells for skin aging: Topical stem cell treatment reversed signs of skin aging caused by sun damage in mice.
Long-levity
Scream at the sea. It’s good for you
At Vista Del Mar, CA, more than 100 people gathered to scream at the ocean.
San Francisco resident Danielle Egan recently hosted "Guttural Scream at the Sea," an event for locals to come together and scream. “I felt like I needed a really good scream,” she said.
They screamed about taxes and AI and the environment and family… Participant Olivia Gugliemotto screamed ‘at the world in general’ and won the loudest scream contest.
I scream, you scream: It’s cathartic, and parts of the experience might have genuine health benefits:
Shared rituals can build connections.
Time near water is linked to better mental well-being.
Screaming might release suppressed emotions (keep it directed to the ocean).
“There's a lot of things to scream about in this day and age,“ Egan said. Finding a healthy outlet for it might help you reset, persevere, and feel a little lighter.
DIY Scream Therapy: Find a safe outlet (ie, a pillow). SCREAM.
New at Livelong
The Livelong Women’s Health SummitTM is today. View the agenda here.
What we’re enjoying
Reader response
Highlighting your responses to last week's question, featured in The Nighttime Glow in Your Bedroom Might Be Linked to Changes in Your Heart. We asked:
What's glowing in your bedroom right now?
Nothing, for 41% of Livelong readers who sleep in complete darkness (though plenty love a nightlight).
Science and instinct seem to favor a darker room. The good news is that it doesn’t take rocket science. You describe using eye masks, sleeping with phones face down, or simply turning away from the light source.
And a little glow isn’t the end of the world :)
Thanks for reading! Have a great weekend.
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The information provided about wellness and health is for general informational and educational purposes only. We are not licensed medical professionals, and the content here should not be considered medical advice. Talk to a doctor before trying any of these suggestions.
