a location analytics and fuel pricing software and services firm an independent market research firm specializing in site selection analysis and sales forecasting for convenience stores and fuel stations The acquisition will bolster Kalibrate’s fuel station and convenience-store forecasting capabilities and capacity IMST serves thousands of convenience and fuel operators across the United States with reports and projections for fuel volume “The IMST acquisition complements Kalibrate’s existing fuel station feasibility study business which currently serves over 300 clients annually,” said Charles Wetzel “IMST’s reporting experience with truck stops and complementary retail services alongside fuel will significantly enhance Kalibrate’s current fuel volume and EV (electric vehicle) impact insights for more holistic site forecasting.” is a location intelligence firm that specializes in supporting clients seeking insights into questions relating to place The company’s customized analytics solutions consist of software platforms consulting services and proprietary datasets is an independent market research firm specializing in retail site selection It provides data for convenience and fuel retailers to make development decisions Projects span the entire United States and sections of Canada IMST provides experience relating to traffic counts pricing strategies and fuel and convenience development trends Customers include convenience-store chains independent c-store operators and real estate developers Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here Get today’s need-to-know convenience industry intelligence Sign up to receive texts from CSP on news and insights that matter to your brand Features include helping maximize and forecast sales operational strain and program cannibalization are all concerns says Richard Poye of Food Trends Think Tank Modern oral nicotine pouches continue to stand out as a key driver for 'other tobacco product' segment CSP’s Top 202 details the largest chains in the convenience-store industry and the biggest M&A stories of the past year Welcome to a deep dive into the c-store landscape The industry’s largest distributors by sales volume The latest information on products and trends in the convenience-store and foodservice industries Peek inside new convenience stores to uncover the best in retail store design across North America Corporate retail news affecting the convenience-store industry Do not sell my personal infoPrivacy PolicyCode of ConductContact UsRSS News / Stories Nineteen African states—those currently reporting or that have reported Mpox cases within this outbreak—gathered in a ‘back-to-school’ style meeting in Congo Brazzaville in the first week of November They shared expertise on developing Mpox vaccination plans, according to the continental Incident Management Support Team (IMST) vaccination pillar A review of plans submitted to the IMST revealed some concerning issues and the presentation of plans across the board lacked standardization Africa CDC National Coordinator and Field Epidemiologist who supports the coordination of the IMST vaccination pillar in the Democratic Republic of Congo “We consulted with stakeholders and learned from experience we need to come together to develop a standard template,” said Dr The Continental Incident Management Support Team has been stationed in the DRC since early this year The response involves ten pillars: Coordination and Leadership Risk Communication and Community Engagement and Continuity of Essential Services. Their efforts have been bolstered by the declaration of a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security by Africa CDC and a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by WHO At the heart of response operations in Kinshasa the team is ready to support any African country affected by Mpox outlined the readiness and allocation criteria expected from member states to access the vaccine “We need to ensure comprehensive response coordination at the country level which includes an existing response structure and an integrated approach,” he said “There is a need for a robust vaccination plan with all stakeholders involved following an integrated approach,” said Dr “The vaccination plan will include a preparedness checklist we’ve developed which is critical for member states as they prepare for the vaccine.” He emphasized the need for a national regulatory framework to facilitate vaccine importation and use These steps are essential to meet the vaccine allocation criteria “We also need to ensure that logistics at the national level are prepared to conduct targeted vaccinations safely and efficiently particularly for high-risk populations,” Dr Samba noted, highlighting the vaccine’s shorter shelf life The national vaccination teams must review their response plans as these vaccines are intended for immediate rollout and not for long-term storage “We also need a robust communication plan using appropriate risk communication methods for target populations and in crisis management,” Dr Communities need to be engaged through strategies targeting high-risk populations to ensure vaccine access and uptake a country is prepared to accept the vaccine additional support will be provided to member states to help them achieve operational readiness,” Dr He added that countries must consider the vaccine type Countries must also evaluate vaccine storage requirements and the need for supplies Samba advised that countries remain flexible ensuring smooth vaccine allocation and operational readiness with national frameworks in place for receiving vaccines Countries are urged to stand in solidarity maintaining impartial distribution so that all high-risk populations have equal access to vaccines “We don’t want anyone left behind; the vaccine must be distributed equitably without discrimination based on epidemiology or risk groups,” he said A need to secure Mpox vaccine supplies via alternative sources The IMST team has developed a flowchart illustrating the process for national response teams submitting a National Mpox Vaccine Deployment Plan to the Continental Technical Review Committee the vaccine pillar conducts a comprehensive review of vaccination plans sharing feedback with the Technical Review Committee for further assessment and recommendations the WHO lead for research and development for epidemics and health emergencies said it is essential to use country data to inform strategies the response to smallpox outbreaks was mass vaccination campaigns in Nigeria and other parts of Africa with limited vaccine doses Henao-Restrepo explained that this approach targeted doses to high-risk areas a strategy now known as surveillance and containment “They used surveillance teams to identify hotspots and then vaccinated people at risk of infection in those areas This targeted approach became a leading strategy for controlling and eradicating smallpox in Latin America It took years to demonstrate that a targeted strategy was more effective for smallpox than mass campaigns as mass campaigns often missed high-risk individuals Henao-Restrepo outlined three steps in outbreak control: setting objectives you must prove it—like climbers who take photos at Mount Everest’s peak to say This approach was a primary reason for the declaration of both a Public Health Emergency of International Concern and a Continental Emergency she added. As human-to-human transmission rises the goal is to curb transmission immediately Vaccines should be deployed strategically to protect high-risk contacts and healthcare workers on the frontline Africa currently faces three Mpox outbreaks across different clades: Clade 1A (endemic with mainly rural transmission and periodic human-to-human cases) with sustained human-to-human transmission across all age groups) and Clade IIb (also urban but affecting young adults) “This information helps control the outbreak and reduce human-to-human transmission by reviewing epidemiological data to identify high-risk populations,” said Henao-Restrepo “This is not a mass campaign; it’s a tailored Henao-Restrepo encouraged countries to understand the clades and epidemiological curves examining local epidemiology to develop effective plans Teams analyzed cases from recent weeks to identify areas with high incidence avoiding older data since the virus may have shifted Countries received guidance on creating quality plans that streamline the response targeted outbreak response strategy,” said Dr costed operational budget with funding sources including both secured funding and budget gaps Transparency is key to indicate which partners support which activities,” Dr ​Africa CDC strengthens the capacity and capability of Africa’s public health institutions as well as partnerships to detect and respond quickly and effectively to disease threats and outbreaks based on data-driven interventions and programmes Tel: +251 11 551 77 00 | communications@africacdc.orgVisit Africa CDC on the African Union website Serving the hydro power and dam construction industries since 1949 Austrian energy company TIWAG-Tiroler Wasserkraft AG has signed an alliance contract for the main construction phase of the Imst-Haiming hydropower plant on the Inn River The construction will be carried out by a consortium consisting of Swietelsky Tunnelbau GmbH The project includes a 14km waterway with a surge tank The Imst-Haiming contract follows an early contractor involvement (ECI) phase which allowed the project team to refine planning and assess construction options with potential partners The ECI process helped establish strong collaboration early on and enabled a more accurate project estimate Give your business an edge with our leading industry insights View all newsletters from across the Progressive Media network © Business Trade Media International Limited Add Comment|1COINCoinbase Global Inc$205.532.10%Stock Score Locked: Want to See it?Benzinga Rankings give you vital metrics on any stock – anytime In a crypto-linked stock market that oscillates like a pendulum, Bitwise Asset Management introduced a plan to translate that volatility into money. The company has introduced three new ETFs each targeting option income strategies based on some of the most volatile stocks in the crypto universe: Bitwise MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF IMST Bitwise COIN Option Income Strategy ETF ICOI and the Bitwise MARA Option Income Strategy ETF IMRA Each of these funds is structured on a covered call strategy intended to capture income by selling options on individual shares of MicroStrategy MSTR Ride the turbulence in the market on your side Receive premiums on selling options and maintain a long position to derive at least a partial benefit from any upside the stock yields Also Read: LPRE ETF Looks Past REITs To Capture ‘Greater’ Real Estate Economy (CORRECTED) they’re operated with a hands-on mindset by Bitwise’s Head of Alpha Strategies “It's essential to be constantly monitoring news and other dynamics to most intelligently capitalize on this strategy That's the approach we're taking with IMST and we hope to bring investors the combination of monthly income and strong limited participation in equity gains as a result,” he said Park is accompanied by a group of co-managers—Jennifer Thornton and Gayatri Choudhury—who will guide these funds with daily active management The objective is clear: earn monthly returns for investors while sharing in some of the capital gain in these stocks. There’s a trade-off, naturally—selling calls limits the upside potential, but the ongoing premiums provide a predictable income stream, which is particularly attractive in volatile markets. Bitwise CEO Hunter Horsley says crypto's volatility isn't just something to endure—it's something to harness. Interestingly, these funds don’t actually own shares of MSTR, COIN or MARA. Rather, they employ synthetic exposure to mimic the stock positions. Pure equity players may want to look elsewhere, but for those who wish to combine crypto market themes with an income strategy, this launch may be the sweet spot. Each fund has a 0.98% net expense fee, although IMST and ICOI are associated with a minor fee waiver that cuts the gross fee from 0.99% until March 2027. Stock Score Locked: Want to See it?Benzinga Rankings give you vital metrics on any stock – anytime Benzinga does not provide investment advice Posted In: New ETFsETFsStories That MatterBenzinga simplifies the market for smarter investingTrade confidently with insights and alerts from analyst ratings free reports and breaking news that affects the stocks you care about and trade ideas delivered to your inbox every weekday before and after the market closes Leading asset manager Bitwise has launched three option income strategy ETFs to help investors capitalize on the volatility in the crypto market The ETFs are Bitwise MARA Option Income Strategy ETF (IMRA) Bitwise COIN Option Income Strategy ETF (ICOI) and Bitwise MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF (IMST) Notably, Bitwise designed the ETFs to give investors exposure to stocks of three crypto-related companies: Coinbase (COIN) The funds will generate income by selling out-of-the-money call options on COIN and MARA while maintaining a long position in the underlying stocks Bitwise will distribute the income to investors monthly upon selling the call options It is noteworthy that Foreside is not affiliated with Bitwise or any of the company’s associates the company’s head of Alpha Strategies will actively monitor developments within the crypto market The active management of these funds is crucial in ensuring that investors remain exposed to the underlying stocks’ performance and participate in the income generated from the options Today, Bitwise is launching $IMST, $ICOI, and $IMRA: three active option income strategy ETFs These new ETFs aim to help investors capitalize on that volatility IMST, ICOI, and IMRA aim to distribute monthly income to investors while… pic.twitter.com/LNvCSakWV1 — Bitwise (@BitwiseInvest) April 3, 2025 Bitwise urged potential investors to consider the investment objectives It clarified that investing in ETFs does not give investors direct ownership of the underlying stocks Bitwise highlighted a covered call risk whereby income generated from the options sale may be insufficient to offset losses if the underlying stock’s price crashes Notably, Bitwise remains one of the largest crypto index fund managers. It boasts over $5 billion in assets under management (AUM) across its investment products, including its dual Bitcoin and Ethereum ETF The company seeks to introduce more investment products, particularly spot crypto ETFs, in the United States. It has filed with the U.S. SEC to launch separate ETFs for XRP, Dogecoin with sources speculating that some of the funds DisClamier: This content is informational and should not be considered financial advice The views expressed in this article may include the author's personal opinions and do not reflect The Crypto Basic opinion Readers are encouraged to do thorough research before making any investment decisions The Crypto Basic is not responsible for any financial losses Copyright ©The Crypto Basic Mpox (monkeypox) Campaigns Events Multimedia Newsletters Spotlights The European Health Report 2024 Ukraine emergency Second European Programme of Work Douglas Seals and their team are studying the effects of a specialized breathing exercise on older adults’ blood pressure Although the health benefits of exercise are well known less than 40% of older and midlife Americans meet recommended aerobic activity guidelines But what if you could improve your health without getting out of your chair—and it took only 10 minutes a day Researchers found that participants who engaged in IMST, a type of breathing exercise designed to strengthen the diaphragm and accessory breathing muscles, appeared to show improvements across multiple health measures, including blood pressure, exercise tolerance, cognition and the functioning of blood vessels in the brain IMST is a form of respiratory muscle training that lets you inhale against high resistance by breathing through a device that vaguely resembles a vacuum attachment “The breath is rapid and intense and feels a bit like sucking up a thick milkshake,” says Daniel Craighhead an assistant research professor of integrative physiology and the study’s lead investigator CU Boulder researcher Daniel Craighead and his colleagues found that high-resistance inspiratory muscle strength training may support improvements in multiple health measures double-blind study were generally healthy men and postmenopausal women classified as having elevated blood pressure (systolic blood pressure of at least 120 mmHg) and on average met minimum physical activity guidelines The experimental group performed high-resistance IMST Both groups performed a specific protocol for five to 10 minutes per day While the control group saw no significant health changes the experimental group showed improvements in blood pressure cognitive abilities and brain-blood-vessel health On average, subjects’ systolic blood pressure decreased by nine points within six weeks, says Craighead. Given that high blood pressure is a risk factor for many health issues these preliminary findings justify more research Subjects also increased their capacity for aerobic exercise a metric associated with positive health outcomes including longevity subjects were asked to walk on a treadmill with a gradually increasing incline until they could no longer tolerate the activity or their maximum ability to consume oxygen subjects walked an average of 12% longer on the second trial—a significant improvement There were “really strong improvements” in the quality of the blood vessels in subjects’ brains as well the health of our brain blood vessels starts to decline How rapidly and intensely that happens can impact our future risk for mild cognitive impairment and dementia such as Alzheimer’s disease,” says Craighead And while it’s too soon to say definitively that IMST could delay or prevent the onset of dementia “it’s at least a promising early finding,” he says researchers observed significant improvements in subjects’ executive functioning focus attention and switch between multiple tasks And “executive function is one of the areas [of cognitive function] that declines most rapidly with dementia,” says Craighead If you’re tempted to trade your exercise routine for IMST “While it seems to have similar effects to exercise when it comes to blood pressure and other health measures unfortunately we didn’t see changes in things like cholesterol levels blood sugar or bone density—all things we know exercise improves.” time-efficient way to improve your health that has no known serious side effects While some subjects initially reported neck strain and lightheadedness those issues resolved and were not significant enough to cause anyone to quit the study he and his research colleagues do recommend that everyone check with their physician before starting IMST because it might not be 100% safe for everyone This technique can be helpful for those with health conditions that make it impossible to meet the recommended physical activity guidelines Those exercising at higher levels may benefit from IMST you’re likely not doing any harm,” says Craighead It’s not going to fatigue your legs or increase your risk of injury While the data suggest that IMST might improve health It’s too soon to make any sweeping statements about the IMST’s potential “The initial results are really exciting.”  Did you enjoy this article? Subscribe to our newsletter. Passionate about integrative physiology? Show your support. 275 UCB, Boulder, CO 80309Email the magazineCollege of Arts & Sciences main website University of Colorado Boulder Privacy • Legal & Trademarks • Campus Map University of Colorado Boulder Convenience-store chains and independents are armed with a host of motivators in determining when where and how they expand their retail footprints chains follow the people—those relocating to new areas in search of better jobs quality of life and—as an added perk—favorable year-round climates “What retailers notice most is where the household growth is occurring first before they measure jobs expansion,” said Travis Heiser an independent market research firm specializing in retail site selection “Chains keep close track of [residential growth] ‘Where can I go for good jobs and acceptable cost of living?’” said Heiser whose firm provides data for c-store retailers around traffic counts The people are just the tip of the iceberg because c-store expansion motivation is multilayered—including tapping metros with ambitious economic redevelopment plans When Maverik Inc. acquired Kum & Go’s chain of more than 300 Midwest and Southern-based stores in 2023 the deal was motivated by the Salt Lake City Utah-based chain’s desire to pursue a new type of clientele—plus the desire to add stores that resembled Maverik’s own Des Moines, Iowa-based Kum & Go’s stores mimic Maverik’s from a design standpoint, according to outgoing Maverik CEO Chuck Maggelet, who retired in May. In addition, many stores are in central Iowa—a growth market in its own right (the Des Moines area has in the past landed on CSP’s "10 Hot Metro Markets for C-Stores" list) Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores, Oklahoma City, acquired EZ GO from Carey Johnson Oil Co. because it was attracted to “adjacencies,” such as Love’s stores close to homes The deal represented the first time Love’s offered retail locations along turnpikes—all part of a goal of making a commitment to “high-demand areas,” according to Love’s executives As Wawa was opening its first store in North Carolina in April—in Kill Devil Hills—site selection was motivated by a chance to serve new customers and communities Another factor: providing the community with “not only a new level of convenience but a strong Wawa plans to build at least 80 stores across North Carolina with the first eight to 10 stores opening this year and up to 15 stores in 2025 The competitive c-store advantage has come a long way in the minds of many after being viewed as a spartan “You see c-stores as hypermarts and travel centers and on the other side as bodegas—this all helps make convenience a trending channel—you saw it with the record sales generated,” said IMST’s Heiser chains see significant value in connecting their loyalty networks “Wawa is eager to connect their retail network from Pennsylvania to Florida,” Heiser said “There’s so much emphasis on retail loyalty and trip frequency that chains want to provide customers ample shopping opportunities to solidify that loyalty.” “There’s so much emphasis on retail loyalty and trip frequency that chains want to provide customers ample shopping opportunities to solidify that loyalty.”—Travis Heiser Heiser said large-track developers are game-planning around soon-to-be built or existing retail in development areas with convenience regarded as a magnet for build-outs The surrounding retail can serve as an anchor for the development plan Several factors dictate the narrative: One is foodservice—seen by chains as an expense requiring not only additional real estate to accommodate programs but hinging on municipalities amenable to foodservice expansion—this is seen with green-lighting permitting infrastructure/easement set-asides and more “Some local communities run from foodservice while others run to it and see the supreme value,” said Heiser Chains are eager to “bring their food with them wherever they expand confident they can enter new states because the reputable food has become iconic,” he adds “New markets have heard about the Wawa food experience.” Many of the same “evergreen” cities have dominated top metropolitan lists over the years Heiser said the report has two sides: “First Austin is still a huge attraction for vacationers and relocating people and businesses But there’s been a shift with the ‘evergreen’ metros that sees people not necessarily targeting Austin proper … but identifying nearby satellite communities They can reap the benefit of living outside the city limits and still be in close proximity to call these cities home.” Because they’re out there ready for growth.” One emerging market that landed on this year’s Top Metros list is Northwest Arkansas anchored by development trends in Fayetteville and Benton Northwest Arkansas appeared within the top 15 of U.S News & World Report’s “Best Places to Live” list New census data pinpoints this region as the 18th fastest-growing metro area in America with Benton and Washington counties seeing the largest population increases statewide Because they’re out there ready for growth if the stars align properly”—Travis Heiser ranked in the Top 10 of CSP’s 2023 and 2024 metro list as the 2023 Huntsville Development Review said the city’s population is continuing to grow even as the real estate market for single-family homes moderates and demand for single-family lots continues to trend high There were 1,284 single-family lots approved in 2023 the seventh year in a row with above-average approvals The approvals were also the third-most in the last decade according to the Huntsville Development Review See the Top 10 Metro Markets to Grow In Now Real estate consultants also see another X factor to expansion in these markets—the “satellite” effect Northern Arkansas can deliver connectivity to the Missouri Ozarks and south to north Texas and Dallas-Fort Worth; communities in Alabama can deliver connectivity to Florida’s Panhandle and further southeast people moved to metropolitan areas on their bucket list because The pandemic meant fully remote work for many—thus providing flexibility to relocate in which workers come to the office two or three times a week Dallas can ride the coattails of people settling in Arkansas and working for a Dallas-based firm; the same for Gulf Coast Florida reaping the benefits of folks relocating to Alabama “People can move to these satellite markets [think Arkansas or Alabama] and because of hybrid work they can rationalize traveling two to three days a week and not feel the stress of a five-day commute,” Heiser said chains continue to see value in new metro markets Sheetz Inc. has been on an expansion rampage of late planning to open its first Michigan location by the end of 2024 Sheetz is also expanding its footprint in its home state reportedly planning to open as many as 30 new stores in western Pennsylvania and western Ohio Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores’ acquisition of EZ GO included six truckstops located on Oklahoma turnpikes five on the Kansas turnpike and 11 convenience stores in Oklahoma and Nebraska—22 stores in all The deal also translates to 400 new employees joining the Love’s family of companies “The opportunity to serve commercial and casual customers on two state turnpikes supports our strategic priority of pursuing adjacent acquisition opportunities,” said Shane Wharton we share a similar culture with the seller in that we operate on a customer-centric model focused on an extensive assortment of products superior customer experience and inviting environment.” Buc-ee’s broke ground in January on a new travel center in Brunswick Buc-ee’s Brunswick occupies 74,000 square feet and offers 120 fueling positions Buc-ee’s operates 47 stores across Texas and the South “Brunswick is a natural stop between our Florida and South Carolina locations on a stretch of interstate near the beautiful Georgia coastline,” said Stan Beard “The community has welcomed us with open arms and we are excited to finally get started here.” C-store chains and independents with an eye on either existing or new metros know that the cost burden of late has only intensified placing an emphasis on a prudent real estate strategy the industry has endured a long period of cost increases and retailers are waiting to see the equilibrium restored,” said Heiser “All the cost inputs of new development are high: it’s more costly to build new stores and buy land and more costly to employ workers [amid rising wages] but it’s nonetheless being offset by the cost-side increases.” Not to place a damper on the anticipation of entering new metros but the most valuable properties might be the ones chains already own ‘Can we add a leased space on the existing property Can we build out?’ It's like a homeowner who opts to remodel their home—to build up or out rather than move They are maximizing their existing assets,” said Heiser Working out just five minutes daily via a practice described as “strength training for your breathing muscles” lowers blood pressure and improves some measures of vascular health as well as The study, published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association provides the strongest evidence yet that the ultra-time-efficient maneuver known as High-Resistance Inspiratory Muscle Strength Training (IMST) could play a key role in helping aging adults fend off cardiovascular disease––the nation’s leading killer 65% of adults over age 50 have above-normal blood pressure––putting them at greater risk of heart attack or stroke Yet fewer than 40% meet recommended aerobic exercise guidelines “There are a lot of lifestyle strategies we know can help people maintain cardiovascular health as they age they take a lot of time and effort and can be expensive and hard for some people to access,” said lead author Daniel Craighead an assistant research professor in the Department of Integrative Physiology “IMST can be done in five minutes in your own home while you watch TV.” Developed in the 1980s as a way to help critically ill respiratory disease patients strengthen their diaphragm and other inspiratory (breathing) muscles IMST involves inhaling vigorously through a hand-held device which provides resistance Imagine sucking hard through a tube that sucks back when prescribing it for breathing disorders doctors recommended a 30-minute-per-day regimen at low resistance Craighead and colleagues at the University of Arizona have been testing whether a more time-efficient protocol––30 inhalations per day at high resistance six days per week––could also reap cardiovascular cognitive and sports performance improvements they recruited 36 otherwise healthy adults ages 50 to 79 with above normal systolic blood pressure (120 millimeters of mercury or higher) Half did High-Resistance IMST for six weeks; and half did a placebo protocol Participants didn’t know which group they were in the IMST group saw their systolic blood pressure (the top number) dip nine points on average a reduction which generally exceeds that achieved by walking 30 minutes a day five days a week That decline is also equal to the effects of some blood pressure-lowering drug regimens Tom Heinbockel demonstrating how to use a Power Breathe device when he was a master's student in the Integrative Physiology department in 2019 “We found not only is it more time-efficient than traditional exercise programs the benefits may be longer lasting,” Craighead said The treatment group also saw a 45% improvement in vascular endothelial function or the ability for arteries to expand upon stimulation and a significant increase in levels of nitric oxide a molecule key for dilating arteries and preventing plaque buildup Nitric oxide levels naturally decline with age Markers of inflammation and oxidative stress were significantly lower after people did IMST for six weeks those in the IMST group completed 95% of the sessions “We have identified a novel form of therapy that lowers blood pressure without giving people pharmacological compounds and with much higher adherence than aerobic exercise,” said senior author Doug Seals a Distinguished Professor of Integrative Physiology The practice may be particularly helpful for postmenopausal women Seals’ lab showed that postmenopausal women who are not taking supplemental estrogen don’t reap as much benefit from aerobic exercise programs as men do when it comes to vascular endothelial function improved it just as much in these women as in men “If aerobic exercise won’t improve this key measure of cardiovascular health for postmenopausal women they need another lifestyle intervention that will,” said Craighead Preliminary results from the same group suggest IMST also improved some measures of brain function and physical fitness And previous studies from other researchers have shown it can be useful for improving sports performance your respiratory muscles get tired and begin to steal blood from your skeletal muscles,” said Craighead who uses IMST in his own marathon training “The idea is that if you build up endurance of those respiratory muscles that won’t happen and your legs won’t get as fatigued.” Seals said they’re uncertain exactly how a maneuver to strengthen breathing muscles ends up lowering blood pressure but they suspect it prompts the cells lining blood vessels to produce more nitric oxide The National Institutes of Health recently awarded Seals $4 million to launch a larger follow-up study of about 100 people comparing a 12-week IMST protocol head-to-head with an aerobic exercise program the research group is developing a smartphone app to enable people to do the protocol at home using already commercially available devices They say the practice is not necessarily meant to replace exercise but can be a useful option for those who lack access to walking trails or recreation centers have trouble doing aerobic activities due to health reasons or just want to add another tool to their blood-pressure-lowering toolbox In an editorial accompanying the journal publication researchers not involved in the study called for more research on the myriad health benefits including potentially mental health benefits Those considering IMST should consult with their doctor first and we think it has a lot of potential to help a lot of people,” said Craighead Editor’s note: This research was originally covered by CU Boulder Today in February 2019 Subscribe to CU Boulder Today Sign up for Alerts Administrative eMemos Buff Bulletin Board Events Calendar Submit a Story  Editorial Guidelines Email your feedback for CU Boulder Today.CU Boulder Today is created by Strategic Relations and Communications a government document showed on Tuesday.The move comes amid increased tensions between Germany and China whose trade ties have become very close in the past decade over unfair competition caused by state-backed enterprises and restrictions on market access.Berlin views IMST as an important provider of satellite communication and its know-how is crucial for national security according to the government document seen by Reuters.IMST's expertise is also needed for the construction of critical infrastructure in the future the document said."IMST is also an important partner of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) IMST's products and services were also the subject of deliveries to the Bundeswehr armed forces," it said.A German economy ministry spokeswoman declined to comment on company names but said the cabinet had authorized the ministry in a closed-door meeting to screen and block a foreign investment by a non-European investor on the grounds that the step could pose a threat to national security.The Chinese foreign ministry said in a statement it had no knowledge of the case but added that the government had always encouraged Chinese companies to carry out "mutually beneficial" investment cooperation overseas."We hope that countries including Germany will provide Chinese companies that are operating normally with a fair open and non-discriminatory market environment and not politicize normal economic and trade cooperation (or) use 'national security' as a pretext to engage in protectionism," it added.A spokeswoman for IMST based in the western town of Kamp-Lintfort in North Rhine-Westphalia CASIC was not immediately available for comment.Germany has lowered the threshold for screening and even blocking purchases of stakes in German firms by non-Europeans in a move to fend off unwanted takeover attempts mainly by state-backed Chinese investors in strategic areas.Under the new rules Berlin can intervene on grounds of public interest if a non-European investor buys a 10% stake in a company sharply reducing the threshold from 25%.The German government has foiled a handful of Chinese deals or takeover attempts including a proposed takeover of German toolmaker Leifeld by Yantai Taihai and a bid by China's State Grid for a stake in power grid operator 50Hertz in 2018.In August the government rejected a bid by China's Vital Materials Co to buy PPM Pure Metals due to concerns about the target company's sales to the German military according to people with knowledge of the matter.Reporting by Michael Nienaber; Additional reporting by Ryan Woo in Beijing; Editing by Caroline Copley and Jan Harvey Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab , opens new tab Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. , opens new tabScreen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. © 2025 Reuters. All rights reserved Hypertension is common: about half of all Americans have it, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute you're at risk for serious health problems and exercise can all help bring blood pressure numbers down there's another simple strategy the health-conscious can add to their toolkits: a type of breathing exercise called inspiratory muscle strength training And all it takes is about 5 to 10 minutes per day, says lead study author Daniel Craighead, PhD assistant research professor in the Integrative Physiology of Aging Lab at the University of Colorado Boulder "You can do [these exercises] while you're watching TV at home; you don't have to deal with weather or transportation or anything," he says "The effectiveness and the potential for actually getting people to do it was something that made it exciting." whether you're taking blood pressure medications or not," Craighead says "We didn't identify anything obvious that's going to strongly impact the effects people will see." That doesn't mean you should do these exercises instead of taking medicines prescribed by your doctor, or that you can skip any other kind of exercise. Moving your whole body is still important for your health, for lots of reasons But it does suggest this type of training could serve as an another effective way to protect your heart health there were minimal side effects or adverse events A few people reported minor neck soreness and lightheadedness but that's similar to what anyone starting a new exercise program might experience you'll want to ask your health care team about any precautions before beginning this type of breath training especially if you already have a chronic health condition You'll need to purchase a device that adds resistance to your inhalations. Craighead's studies have used one called a POWERbreathe K3 in part because it has a digital storage system that helps researchers track whether study participants are doing their exercises That will make the exercises challenging enough to produce similar results "inhale as quickly and powerfully as possible against resistance," Craighead says Most of the devices have a valve that opens and closes — your goal is to produce enough force with your breath to get it open and keep it open as long as you can This helps you avoid hyperventilation and dizziness increase the resistance a little bit until the routine feels hard but doable "You should get to the end of the 30 breaths in a session and basically not feel like you could do more than a couple more at that intensity," Craighead says keep the resistance steady for a week or two then see if you can increase it again as you gain strength Most studies have asked participants to do the exercises at least five days a week But don't stress too much if you miss a day or two — you'll likely still see benefits Though the exercises will make your diaphragm and other breathing muscles stronger scientists don't believe that's how this training produces its effects on blood pressure Craighead cites the effects on the sympathetic nervous system which controls the body's fight or flight system hard inhalations seem to flip a switch that reduces sympathetic nervous system activity According to the June 2021 study in ‌JAHA,‌ inspiratory muscle strength training appears to improve the health of blood vessels enabling them to better expand and contract to shuttle blood where it's needed in the body experts have more to learn about the benefits and potential risks of inspiratory muscle strength training He and his colleagues are currently doing longer and larger studies to see if the results hold up or even add up over time They're also planning to move the technique out of the lab and into the real world making sure participants can stick to this plan without researchers peeking over their shoulders or checking on their progress Craighead is optimistic enough about the benefits that he does inspiratory muscle strength training regularly himself. In addition to the blood-pressure benefits, the exercises also may improve athletic performance: A January 2021 study in the journal ‌Medicina‌ found twice-daily breathing training increased the speed of 800-meter runners "I think if this is something that's shown in larger follow-up studies with longer treatment durations to be as effective as we've seen so far it really could have a profound impact on the prevalence of cardiovascular disease People with high blood pressure could use inspiratory muscle strength training as another tool to bring their numbers down — and those who currently have regular readings could use it to keep them that way Simply improving our breathing can significantly lower high blood pressure at any age Recent research finds that just five to 10 minutes daily of exercises that strengthen the diaphragm and certain other muscles does the trick It's well known that weightlifting can strengthen our biceps and quads there's accumulating evidence that strengthening the muscles we use to breathe is beneficial too New research shows that a daily dose of muscle training for the diaphragm and other breathing muscles helps promote heart health and reduces high blood pressure The hand-held machine — one of several on the market — looks like an inhaler "We found that doing 30 breaths per day for six weeks lowers systolic blood pressure by about 9 millimeters of mercury," Craighead says And those reductions are about what could be expected with conventional aerobic exercise A normal blood pressure reading is less than about 120/80 mmHg, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention some health care professionals diagnose patients with high blood pressure if their average reading is consistently 130/80 mmHg or higher The reductions are higher when people combine multiple medications but a 10 mmHg reduction correlates with a 35% drop in the risk of stroke and a 25% drop in the risk of heart disease "I think it's promising," Joyner says about the prospects of integrating strength training for the respiratory muscles into preventive care It could be beneficial for people who are unable to do traditional aerobic exercise given people can easily use the device at home "Taking a deep, resisted, breath offers a new and unconventional way to generate the benefits of exercise and physical activity," Joyner concluded in an editorial that was published alongside a prior study in the Journal of the American Heart Association how exactly does breath training lower blood pressure Craighead points to the role of endothelial cells which line our blood vessels and promote the production of nitric oxide — a key compound that protects the heart Nitric oxide helps widen our blood vessels which prevents the buildup of plaque in arteries "What we found was that six weeks of IMST [inspiratory-muscle strength training] will increase endothelial function by about 45%," Craighead explains It has long been known that deep diaphragmatic breathing — often used during meditation or mindfulness practices — can help lower blood pressure too Muscle training with the PowerBreathe device works in a similar way engaging the breathing muscles and promoting the production of nitric oxide The particular helpfulness of the IMST device is that it requires less time to get the benefit because the small machine adds the resistance that gives the muscles a good workout His research is funded by the National Institutes of Health The new study builds on the prior study and adds to the evidence that IMST — which is essentially strength training for the respiratory muscles — is beneficial for adults of all ages "We were surprised to see how ubiquitously effective IMST is at lowering blood pressure," Craighead says pointing to a significant decline in blood pressure for participants of all ages He says the finding suggests IMST could help healthy young people prevent heart disease and the rise in blood pressure that tends to occur with aging There may also be benefits for elite cyclists, runners and other endurance athletes, he says, citing data that six weeks of IMST increased aerobic exercise tolerance by 12% in middle-aged and older adults "So we suspect that IMST consisting of only 30 breaths per day would be very helpful in endurance exercise events," Craighead says It's a technique that athletes could add to their training regimens says he has incorporated IMST as part of his own training The technique is not intended to replace exercise or to replace medication for people whose blood pressure is so elevated that they're at high risk of having a heart attack or stroke "it would be a good additive intervention for people who are doing other healthy lifestyle approaches already." has a family history of high blood pressure and participated in the Colorado research she had blood pressure readings near the threshold at which doctors recommend medications "It was a surprise that something as simple could be so profound in terms of its impact," says Hernandez of the six weeks of breathing exercises "It took my blood pressure to under the threshold so that I would not need to take medication," she says and she says she plans to stick with it — five minutes every day Become an NPR sponsor Claire is a park ranger who feels that our health and well-being can benefit from being outdoors and having contact with nature With undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in politics and gender studies she also has a keen interest in women’s health This individual is no longer a medical reviewer in our network The credentials and contact information reflected here may not be current Courtney Sullivan is a professional yoga instructor with extensive experience Courtney currently owns and operates a yoga-inspired preschool program in North Carolina as well as being a professional youth dance instructor Amanda is a freelance health and medical education journalist Jennifer has loved writing and health since childhood she decided to mash them together and become a professional health writer When she’s not crafting health articles and blogs she enjoys spending time with her family and singing classical music To keep up with Jennifer, connect with her on LinkedIn or visit her website Adam Felman is an Editor for Medical News Today and Greatist Adam also owns every Nic Cage movie and has a one-eyed hedgehog called Philip K Breathing techniques may reduce stress and anxiety Some techniques work to give immediate relief Others may work best with practice over time Simply paying more attention to the breath can have benefits for well-being Most forms of meditation use breathing techniques to relax the body and calm the mind Finding the right breathing technique and making it part of a routine can help a person experience the benefits we discuss some of the best and most useful breathing techniques and the conditions that they may help treat the diaphragm and external intercostal muscles contract and the internal intercostal muscles contract causing the lungs to deflate and let the air out Some different breathing techniques that a person may wish to try include: People living with lung conditions may wish to consider trying pursed lip breathing Pursed lip breathing can form part of a pulmonary rehabilitation program This umbrella term describes a range of treatments for people with lung conditions Breathing techniques may help people with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) These conditions weaken the lungs and make it harder for a person to breathe out all of the stale air With stale air taking up room in the lungs Pursed lip breathing can help get the diaphragm working and increase the amount of oxygen entering the body It keeps the airways open for longer than normal Learn more about pursed lip breathing. People may consider trying diaphragmatic breathing to relive the symptoms of lung conditions, stress, or anxiety Diaphragmatic breathing, which some people refer to as belly breathing, can also be part of a pulmonary rehabilitation program It can help strengthen the lungs and make them work more efficiently the body will use other muscles for breathing It is important to relax the neck and shoulders for this breathing technique as this will make the diaphragm do more of the work of breathing Performing this technique lying down may help a person focus on filling the lungs fully as they can pay close attention to the belly rising and falling To perform diaphragmatic breathing, a person should: Learn more about diaphragmatic breathing. People may consider trying mindful breathing for anxiety, stress, sleep issues, or high blood pressure This technique requires a person to concentrate fully on the breath, using this focused attention as a form of meditation There are many different mindful breathing techniques One simple one is to focus on the natural rhythm of breathing in and out Doing this may naturally slow down the breathing To perform mindful breathing, a person should: People may consider trying deep breathing for anxiety or stress Breathing deeply can be an effective way to deal with a stressful situation full breath can slow the heartbeat and make a person feel calmer To perform deep breathing, a person should: It may help to count to four for each breath People may consider trying box breathing to relieve stress or boost concentration in addition to improving concentration and focus people should sit upright in a comfortable chair Sitting up straight makes it easier to breathe in and out fully Resting the hands palm upward in the lap or on the knees can help the upper body stay relaxed To perform box breathing, a person should: Learn more about box breathing. People may consider trying alternate nostril breathing for anxiety or stress Alternate nostril breathing is a common part of yoga practice Most people use one nostril more than the other without realizing it This exercise can even out the breathing and help a person slow down the breath to reduce stress It is best to sit in a comfortable position on a chair or the floor for this exercise A person should breathe out fully before beginning the breathing technique A person can perform alternate nostril breathing by following these steps: People may consider trying lion breathing for stress This exercise uses breathing along with face stretches to relieve stress and tension To perform lion breathing, a person should: Repeat the exercise three times for maximum benefit People may consider trying 4-7-8 breathing to aid sleep This exercise can help ease a busy mind before going to bed Focusing on the breath and counting can distract from worries or stress as a person tries to fall asleep This technique also helps breathing become more regular and can relax the body people should rest the tip of the tongue against the roof of the mouth People can then perform the 4-7-8 breathing technique: Learn more about 4-7-8 breathing. Breathing techniques should never replace medical treatment These exercises work best alongside other treatments For lung conditions, breathing exercises may be one part of pulmonary rehabilitation. Other aspects of treatment may include exercises, physical therapy Stress and anxiety can be different for everyone Breathing techniques may reduce stress in a difficult situation or help create a good routine for sleep Breathing exercises can help with a range of medical conditions They are most effective as part of a daily routine People can try breathing techniques for the first time when they are calm and breathing normally They may find it beneficial to practice at the same time every day Becoming familiar with a breathing exercise can take time It looks like nothing was found at this location Maybe try one of the links below or a search In the space of just five minutes a day – about the time it takes to take 30 deep breaths – a simple breathing exercise can lower blood pressure and could sharply reduce your chances of developing serious cardiovascular disease It almost sounds like an infomercial (and we didn't even mention the part about how you can do this in the comfort of your own home But this is no gimmick. According to new research it's the real deal: a highly convenient and easy-to-perform technique that could improve the health of millions of people especially older adults with high blood pressure and cardiovascular problems "We have identified a novel form of therapy that lowers blood pressure without giving people pharmacological compounds and with much higher adherence than aerobic exercise," says integrative physiologist Doug Seals from the University of Colorado Boulder It's called Inspiratory Muscle Strength Training (IMST) a form of physical training specifically designed to exercise the diaphragm and other breathing muscles using a handheld device that provides resistance when you inhale through it (kind-of like an asthma puffer that works against you) IMST was first pioneered decades ago as a way to help critically ill respiratory disease patients strengthen their independent breathing functions using only mild or moderate resistance in the device To investigate further, a team led by integrative physiologist Daniel Craighead from the University of Colorado Boulder conducted a clinical trial in which 36 healthy adults aged between 50 and 79 trialed IMST for a period of six weeks half the group were randomly assigned to do high-resistance IMST using devices that make it significantly more difficult to inhale through giving your breathing muscles a higher-intensity workout The other half of the group also did IMST for six weeks, but were effectively given a placebo: a sham treatment that used low-resistance versions of the device the experiment was the same for both groups: use the device to inhale 30 times a day After six weeks, the treatment group using high-resistance IMST saw significant drops in systolic blood pressure (SBP) greater than or equal to what can result from implementing other healthy lifestyle strategies including aerobic exercise and some blood pressure-lowering medications "This improvement in SBP is clinically meaningful because it is associated with a 30 percent to 40 percent lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease," the researchers explain in their study noting that the effects lasted for many weeks even after the experiment finished "The reduction in casual SBP was largely sustained after six weeks of abstaining from IMST with about 75 percent of the initial reduction preserved." In addition, the IMST group also saw significant improvements in vascular endothelial function suggesting their artery health had improved (although arterial stiffness was unchanged in such a short experiment) while markers of systemic inflammation were lowered While the researchers don't fully understand all the mechanisms of how high-resistance IMST delivers these benefits, it's possible that the breathing exercises prompt the cells lining blood vessels to produce more nitric oxide which helps muscles to relax and improves blood flow The team suspects a longer-lasting intervention might lead to even more impressive results but also acknowledge their study needs to be replicated in a larger experimental setting for us to know more While high-resistance IMST can't be recommended widely until results from such larger studies are known what is certain is that the technique does seem easy to actually commit to: 95 percent of participants in the study completed everything that was required from their 5-minute exercise sessions That high level of adherence – afforded by the ease and convenience of doing something for just a few minutes a day – is worth bearing in mind, given adults' level of adherence to doing the generally recommended 30 minutes of physical activity per day is much lower – estimated to be as low as under 5 percent by one study "Taking a deep, resisted, breath offers a new and unconventional way to generate the benefits of exercise and physical activity," Mayo Clinic researchers Michael Joyner and Sarah Baker, who were not involved with the study, write in a commentary on the research The findings are reported in the Journal of the American Heart Association This snapshot shows all polio events and outbreaks that occurred/were ongoing in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) in 2022 At UKC/UKH we are all experienced internet users and as such we understand why some people want to use Ad Block to remove annoying and distracting advertising that proliferates on some web sites We don't feel that UKC/UKH should be considered as such a site We have developed a site that has subtle and appropriate advertising; we don't use pop-ups we don't force you to read adverts before you can see content and we don't use third party ad servers dishing up totally inappropriate advertising We have worked incredibly hard over the years to make sure that we keep a good balance between advertising and editorial content Please could you consider disabling Adblock when visiting UKC/UKH After hearing the news that the Paraclimbing World Championships were not going to be in Hachioji Just two events were set for the calendar – the Paraclimbing Masters in Imst The masters is always a great competition put on by Kletterzentrum Imst and luckily 50 kilometres west of Innsbruck – the backdrop is snow-capped mountains With 36 degrees C forecasted for both days and a large field from all over the world the team have been training hard for the world championships so this event is used as a pre-season kick-starter – ironing out any event management issues – such as route reading timing and preparation – warm-up routines resting between routes and learning from mistakes that will help us in Briançon crimpy routes with grades not really dipping below 7a for some categories Obviously the sport of paraclimbing is in its infancy so many categories see a large variation of disability Setting for these categories is hard at best We finished the first day with 7 potential podium positions Day two was arguably easier for most of the team but with the high heat and fierce competition On top of experienced international team members this year we also had many new faces competing internationally for the first time Seeing such composure from young and up-and-coming athletes is encouraging showing we have a bright future ahead for British para-climbing The team fought hard and climbed smoothly doing themselves and our country proud one 5th and one athlete in 9th (in a large and very competitive field) Richard Slocock B2 (visually impaired) 1st Matthew Phillips AU2 (Lower-arm amputee) 3rd This leaves Team GB in a great position in the run up to the World Championships taking place in Briancon next week (15-18th July) 20 athletes will be representing Great Britain in France so please watch out for their progression and offer support over social media Oakwood Climbing Centre and The Quay Climbing Centre for their support with the team The funding the two walls provide allows us to attend these international events The paraclimbing team have huge goals for next year – on rock as well as in competitions so if you are able to offer financial support Matthew Phillips is a top British Para-climber having won the World Championships in 2018 and 2019 This week's Friday Night Video tells the story of Matthew Phillips who started climbing at the age of 14 and quickly took the para-climbing world by storm winning the World Championships in 2018 at the age of 18 and repeating the feat a.. At the Innsbruck 2018 Paraclimbing World Championships this week Last weekend the 2017 British Lead and Speed Climbing Championships took place at Awesome.. The fifth round of the IFSC Lead World Cup took place at EICA Ratho near Edinburgh this.. This year's British Lead and Speed Climbing Championships and a round of the Paraclimbing Cup took.. the training and new coach are paying dividends How — and why — to fit more fiber and fermented food into your meals UTI in older women: Why postmenopausal women are susceptible to urinary tract infection Some adults may need a measles booster shot Counting steps is good — is combining steps and heart rate better Can saw palmetto treat an enlarged prostate Using a device that strengthens breathing muscles for just five minutes a day may help lower blood pressure Inspiratory muscle strength training (IMST) uses a small handheld device that provides resistance as you inhale and exhale It was originally developed for people with serious lung conditions to strengthen their breathing muscles Researchers tested the device on 36 older adults with elevated blood pressure Half did high-resistance IMST for five minutes while the others did a low-resistance breathing program for comparison systolic blood pressure (the first number in a reading) dropped by an average of nine points among those who did the treatment This benefit appeared to stem from improvements in blood vessel function and increases in nitric oxide IMST may offer benefits similar to exercise but in far less time people should consult a doctor before trying the device in the Journal of the American Heart Association An alarming one in three American adults has high blood pressure many people don't even know they have it because high blood pressure has no symptoms or warning signs But when elevated blood pressure is accompanied by abnormal cholesterol and blood sugar levels high blood pressure is easy to detect and treat In the Special Health Report, Controlling Your Blood Pressure find out how to keep blood pressure in a healthy range simply by making lifestyle changes Get the latest in health news delivered to your inbox Do not sell my personal information | Privacy Policy and Terms of Use is yours absolutely FREE when you sign up to receive Health Alerts from Harvard Medical School Sign up to get tips for living a healthy lifestyle with ways to fight inflammation and improve cognitive health plus the latest advances in preventative medicine Get helpful tips and guidance for everything from fighting inflammation to finding the best diets for weight loss...from exercises to build a stronger core to advice on treating cataracts the latest news on medical advances and breakthroughs from Harvard Medical School experts Sign up now and get a FREE copy of theBest Diets for Cognitive Fitness Stay on top of latest health news from Harvard Medical School get a FREE copy of the Best Diets for Cognitive Fitness New satellite constellations in low Earth orbit (LEO) medium Earth orbit (MEO) or geostationary orbit (GEO) allow uninterrupted connectivity on land Besides classic A&D satellite applications the new orbits will enable new services such as global tracking remote sensing or non-terrestrial networks (NTN) which will drive demand for SATCOM infrastructure testing in the coming years Rohde & Schwarz has joined forces with IMST to demonstrate a powerful solution for SATCOM terminal testing Testing the performance of satellite terminal systems and components with appropriate signals under realistic over-the-air conditions is crucial weight and performance are all challenging for SATCOM terminal manufacturers Rohde & Schwarz and IMST will showcase a test solution that uses the compact R&S ATS1800C CATR based test chamber from Rohde & Schwarz for OTA measurements to characterise a SANTANA IV antenna array module from IMST The R&S ATS1800C has a high-quality CATR reflector that creates a large quiet zone (QZ) for much higher measurement certainty relative to other solutions The R&S ZNA vector network analyser can comprehensively test and reliably characterise DUTs R&S AMS32 software measures technical parameters such as magnitude and phase of far field and near field distributions as well as metrics such as error vector magnitude (EVM) to characterize the digitally-modulated transceiver performance The SANTANA IV module (FKZ 50RK1925) is a smart antenna terminal designed by IMST It is equipped with electronically controlled antenna beam steering that allows the beam shape and pointing direction to be electronically adjusted without any moving mechanical parts The TX antenna array has 64 elements that support dual linear or circular polarization The array was designed for an operating frequency range from 29.5 GHz to 30 GHz which can be used for applications such as SATCOM-on-the-move (SOTM) The single 64-element module can be used as a base module for larger arrays and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById("ak_js_2").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()) India signs deal for Rafale Marine aircraft - APDR The Inter-Governmental Agreement between India and France has been signed for India’s acquisition of 26 Rafale Marine to equip the Indian Navy SPONSORED CONTENT: Facing the Evolving Needs of Maritime Security - APDR IAI Israel's premier defence corporation and a provider of naval and maritime solutions is at the forefront of maritime security New Zealand budgets for new naval helicopters - APDR New Zealand will spend NZ$2 billion (US$1.19 billion) in its upcoming budget to replace the Defence Force’s aging maritime helicopters Thales Australia wins top honour at defence industry awards - APDR Thales Australia recently won the prestigious Chief Minister’s Award for Excellence in Defence Industry – Large Business Daily News Bulletin from APDR for 05/05/25 - South Australia touts defence industry growth - APDR South Australia is leading the nation’s defence industry growth with the state’s economic contribution up 30 pct to $1.9 billion in 2023-24 Work starts on RAAF Base Darwin refresh project - APDR Defence has held a sod turning ceremony to acknowledge commencement of the RAAF Base Darwin Mid-Term Refresh project worth almost $160 million Hanwha Systems wins missile defence deal - APDR Hanwha Systems announced that they will take charge of developing the multi-function radar of LAMD (Low Altitude Missile Defense) Lockheed Martin and Rheinmetall expand missile partnership - APDR Lockheed Martin and Rheinmetall have expanded their cooperation with the signing of an update to an existing Memorandum of Understanding Δdocument.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()) Oct 11, 2022It’s long been advocated that one key to lowering high blood pressure is getting your heart rate up through aerobic activity for 30 minutes a day cardiologists recommend 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity a week or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity a week.) In theory but actually putting it into practice can be difficult for some—especially during the winter months there’s likely already not enough time in the day to get everything done on your to-do list without adding exercise into the mix What if that 30 minutes could be cut down to just five minutes a day? A new study out of the University of Colorado at Boulder is proposing just that through a breathing exercise called inspiratory muscle strength training (IMST) The study found that doing IMST for five minutes a day could be even more effective at lowering blood pressure than aerobic exercise or even medication What exactly is IMST and could it truly be as beneficial as the study suggests A renowned cardiologist unaffiliated with the study gives his honest thoughts Related: 7 Tricks to Take Your Blood Pressure Quickly  18 participants between the ages of 50 and 79 with high blood pressure (but who were otherwise healthy) did the IMST training for six weeks Another group of 18 people (also between the ages of 50 and 79 with high blood pressure but no other health conditions) did a placebo exercise the researchers found that the participants who did IMST experienced a blood pressure drop of an average of nine points which is about the same as what someone who exercises for 30 minutes a day or takes blood pressure medication would experience So, what is IMST? Dr. Howard Weintraub, MD, the clinical director of the Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease at NYU Langone Health explains that IMST is done by breathing through a scaled tube that uses resistance to strengthen the muscles used to breathe Think of it as strength training for your diaphragm Similar to how lifting weights in the gym can make your arms stronger IMST uses resistance to make the diaphragm stronger While we know through scientific studies that aerobic exercise helps lower blood pressure because it makes the heart stronger which allows it to pump more blood with less effort and decrease the force put on the arteries the researchers of the study were not able to explain why IMST effectively lowered blood pressure; they just observed that it did Related: From Blood Sugar to BMI, Here Are the Top Health Facts You Should Know so You Can Be Your Own Advocate Weintraub thinks this new study about IMST and blood pressure is interesting he doesn’t advocate ditching exercise or prescription meds for a five-minute daily breathing exercise he points out that the study is very small; there were only 36 people which is not comparable to the millions of people taken into account in the many many studies on aerobic exercise and blood pressure.  he reiterates that the researchers can’t explain the results certainly more scientific evidence is needed to establish a firm connection between IMST and lowering blood pressure he says that where IMST could come in handy is in addition to other healthy habits including regular exercise eating heart-healthy foods and taking prescription medication (if necessary) He says that it won’t hurt and could benefit cardiovascular health in a complementary way Related: Whether You're Dealing With High Blood Pressure or Want to Avoid It in the Future, Here Are the Best 25 Foods to Eat but it’s likely not the shortcut some may have been hoping for So don’t throw away your sneakers just yet; regular exercise will still do your body a whole lot of good And that’s advice worth taking to heart.  Next up, find out why blood pressure went up during the pandemic. without lifting a single weight or jogging a single step help you think more clearly and boost your sports performance with a new grant from the National Institute on Aging CU Boulder researchers have launched a clinical trial to learn more about the ultra-time-efficient exercise known as Inspiratory Muscle Strength Training (IMST) "It's basically strength-training for the muscles you breathe in with," explains Daniel Craighead, a postdoctoral researcher in the Integrative Physiology department. "It's something you can do quickly in your home or office, without having to change your clothes, and so far it looks like it is very beneficial to lower and possibly boost cognitive and physical performance." Developed in the 1980s as a means to wean critically ill people off ventilators IMST involves breathing in vigorously through a hand-held device—an inspiratory muscle trainer—which provides resistance Imagine sucking hard through a straw which sucks back During early use in patients with lung diseases low-resistance regimen daily to boost their lung capacity University of Arizona researchers published results from a trial to see if just 30 inhalations per day with greater resistance might help sufferers of obstructive sleep apnea In addition to more restful sleep and developing a stronger diaphragm and other inspiratory muscles, subjects showed an unexpected side effect after six weeks: Their systolic pressure plummeted by 12 millimeters of mercury That's about twice as much of a decrease as aerobic exercise can yield and more than many medications deliver "That's when we got interested," said Professor Doug Seals director of the Integrative Physiology of Aging Laboratory which signifies the pressure in your vessels when your heart beats naturally creeps up as arteries stiffen with age leading to damage of blood-starved tissues and higher risk of heart attack evidence-based interventions that those busy mid-life adults will actually perform," said Seals who was recently awarded a $450,000 NIA grant to fund a small clinical trial of IMST involving about 50 subjects "The preliminary data are quite exciting." the researchers have found significant drops in blood pressure and improvements in large-artery function among those who performed IMST with no changes in those who used a sham breathing device that delivered low-resistance the IMST group is also performing better on certain cognitive and memory tests When asked to exercise to exhaustion, they were also able to stay on the treadmill longer and keep their and oxygen consumption lower during exercise "We suspect that as you improve the function of your respiratory muscles they don't need as much blood to work and that blood can be redistributed to your legs so you exercise longer," said Craighead Some cyclists and runners have already begun to use commercially-available inspiratory muscle trainers to gain a competitive edge But Seals and Craighead stress that their findings are preliminary more research is necessary and curious individuals should ask their doctor before considering IMST with a high compliance rate (fewer than 10 percent of study participants drop out) and no real side-effects "High blood is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease which is the number one cause of death in America," said Craighead "Having another option in the toolbox to help prevent it would be a real victory." Please select the most appropriate category to facilitate processing of your request Thank you for taking time to provide your feedback to the editors we do not guarantee individual replies due to the high volume of messages Daily science news on research developments and the latest scientific innovations The most comprehensive sci-tech news coverage on the web The Imst Lead World Cup is taking place this weekend. Canadians competed in Qualifications, including Alannah Yip (finished 40th), Alison Stewart-Patterson (53rd), Christy Spurrel (54th), Jaylene Pratt (55th), Elan Jonas Mcrae (36th), Nathan Smith (58th) and Matt Wellington (65th). Top five finishers below and full results here @elanjm1 getting close to the top on Men's Q2 at the Imst World Cup. Unfortunately no Canadians will be moving onto semis, but we'll all be watching and cheering on our friends from other countries! #ifscwc #climbing Get the digital edition of Gripped for your chosen platform: 17-year-old Hamish McArthur earned his first ever international podium place at the European Youth Cup (Lead) in Imst Hamish has consistently made finals (top 10) but has more often than not placed in the top 5 'Looking back over 3 years of international results you can see that he's been consistent and close to making a podium but never quite achieved it He has placed 4th on countback and time previously.' I've witnessed him become more determined and committed each time he missed out I've never seen him get deflated or demotivated by it I think it will be a relief to have finally have had a reward for the hardwork and sacrifices he's made.' The Youth A male category is notoriously difficult and competitive with the A climbers often outperforming the older category on routes shared with Juniors (18-19 year-olds) recently placed 5th in the senior Lead World Cup final in Chamonix 'Hopefully the monkey off the back will allow Hamish to take a more relaxed approach which he is aware will help him find the "flow" when lead climbing I think he attempted to do this in Imst which is perhaps why he climbed so well through the qualifiers and in the final.' Writing from Innsbruck where he is spending some time training for upcoming events 'I've consistently made finals but always just missed out on the podium Whether this is simply bad luck or a mental block it is certainly a relief to finally get on the podium It feels long overdue and I hope to make up from the missed medals in future comps.' Hamish has competed in two senior Lead World Cups one in Kranj at the end of 2018 and more recently in Chamonix this summer where finished in the top half of a very strong men's field Making the jump up to seniors is a tricky transition for most athletes 'Stepping up to seniors wasn't as hard to adjust to as people had said to me you're competing against the route not the other athletes and if you get high enough on the routes you'll do well It's a simple formula and far easier said than done However it still feels so cool to be competing against guys I've watched on YouTube and idolised for years especially when the gap between them and me isn't as large as I thought it would be In the coming weeks Hamish is training hard for the 2019 World Youth Championships where he is hoping to continue his run of good form 'My senior results have definitely increased my confidence for youth comps by teaching me how to climb and act like a professional I hope to carry this forward into the Youth World Championships in Arco in late August Here I aim to final in both lead and boulder (and hopefully pick up some more medals.) I've also got the senior World Cup in Kranj at the end of the season I would like to improve on my performance last year where I missed out on semi finals by a single place and of course keep gaining valuable experience.' Hamish placed 2nd in the Senior British Lead Climbing Championships at EICA Ratho last year behind World Cup finalist and Olympic hopeful Will Bosi Hamish McArthur has been part of the Team GB set-up since he was just twelve years old After winning Bronze in the Lead on his World Championships debut he qualified for the Olympics via a 9th place finish in the.. The four climbers selected to represent Great Britain in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games have been officially announced by the British Olympic Association Following their performances in the Olympic Qualifier Series last.. This weekend we saw the return of the Rab Climbing Works International Festival (CWIF) with competitors from all over the world.. Hamish McArthur has made the fourth ascent of Malcolm Smith's 'Hunger' The Rab Climbing Works International Festival (CWIF) returned over the weekend after a year's hiatus and there was a.. After a year's hiatus due to you-know-what the Climbing Works International Festival (CWIF) returned.. Great achievement and the first of lots more to come Toby Roberts and Hannah Kerr recently achieved podium positions in the annual Youth Colour Climbing Festival in Imst The competition is an international event for young climbers not yet old enough to compete in the European Youth Championships Toby (11) won the Youth D Boys category and Hannah Kerr (11) came 3rd in the Youth D Girls category The competition included eight routes over two days and attracted over 220 of the best young climbers from across Europe, born between 2003 and 2006. Competitors had six routes to complete on the Saturday and the top twenty climbers attempted a final two routes on the Sunday had placed 2nd in the same event last year and was determined to go one better this year 'Immediately after I came 2nd in 2015 I knew I wanted to come back and try and win and it felt so good to know I had done it a year later I was told afterwards that I was the first British person to ever win at the YCCF.' A keen sport climber as a well as a competitor, Toby recently redpointed Raindogs 8a at Malham Cove. (UKC news report) of Whitburn - who started climbed aged 6 - was also competing in the event for the second time 'Hannah had an amazing time at the YCCF.  Her attitude and maturity all weekend was outstanding and she prepared and climbed so well. Hannah takes most things in her stride and this weekend has been no exception.  She said ‘I loved the routes and had a great time trying to beat the wall.  I’m so excited to be 3rd at a European competition but I’m annoyed at myself for not topping both routes in the final as I think I could have. YCCF is the only 2-day competition I have competed in which is a great learning experience.'' Hannah's highlight of the weekend? 'Riding the alpine roller coaster and getting to the very top of the wall on the Monday after the competition!' The British contingent came away with a strong set of results overall including eight finalists across all categories out of the 18 British competitors Full results here Read Toby's blog here Toby is sponsored by: Craggy Island, La Sportiva and Lyon Outdoor Please consider becoming a registered user This is a great help to UKC and gives you access to all these great features: Already registered? Login We keep your data private Three British youngsters returned home from the Youth Color Climbing Festival in Imst Hannah Kerr (born 2005) and Hannah Toward (2007) both placed 2nd and Valissya May (2007) placed 3rd in their respective age groups The annual festival attracts young climbers from across Europe and serves as a stepping stone toward the IFSC junior circuit I topped 2 routes in the qualifiers and got timed out on the other 4 living up to my reputation as The Sloth but delighted the wall didn't kick me off I was in 6th position and through to the finals on Sunday The final routes were from last weekend's European Youth Cup and they were awesome I topped the first route but got timed out as I was clipping the last draw but put myself in a strong position before the final route Route 2 was volumetastic and tough but so much fun I got the 2nd high point on this route too I was super psyched to finish 2nd at my final YCCF and secure my position in the GB squad for 2019 GB climbing's future is looking bright with some great results: Edie Carr 10th I would like to thank Mike Mullins for all his support.' Hannah Toward - who recently climbed her first indoor 8a - commented: 'I had a brilliant weekend and was really pleased with the way I climbed I qualified for the final in 3rd place on Saturday topping 4 out the 6 routes and getting a few holds from the top on the other 2 I put in a solid performance on the two final climbs The setting was superb with lots of interesting moves and holds I had never seen before It was an amazing experience to compete against some of the best climbers in Europe and it was cool that so man Brits made the final – Valissya May 3rd Lucy Garlic 6th & Ava Gracie Hamilton 11th I am looking forward to getting back outside over the summer to do some bouldering and trad Thanks to Filip Donchev and Neil Gresham for all their support.' Full results here. Hannah Kerr is sponsored by: Psychi and Scarpa Hannah is supported by: Boulder Shack Climbing Gym and DMM Definitely an impressive result by such a friendly and enthusiastic group of kids My daughter has climbed alongside all of the GB girls in the U12 group and has been inspired to join the YCCF event next year It looks like a well-run event in a beautiful mountain setting Well done to the UK kids - top effort and that depth of talent bodes really well for future Olympic squads and top headpointers/redpointers surely! presuming up to then that I was giving the benefit of the doubt to the Austrians for spelling "color" the US way - but no The results PDF at least has it spelt our way Set them a good example so they get full SPaG marks in their next test I bet we are going to be seeing these names again and again hopefully over the next years Confusion and frustration often ensue as you’re conscious about your health eat well and say no to that extra glass of wine Your metrics are averaging better than the regular person in your age group the force of blood flowing against the walls of your arteries (blood pressure) is too high If you experience consistently high blood pressure your GP is likely to offer you medication to lower it, along with recommendations for lifestyle changes, such as increasing physical activity. But research is now investigating ways of lowering blood pressure naturally IMST stands for Inspiratory Muscle Strength Training More and more people are looking for drug-free solutions to combat their high blood pressure “We found that doing 30 breaths per day for six weeks lowers systolic blood pressure by about 9 millimetres of mercury,” said Daniel Craighead an integrative physiologist at the University of Colorado Boulder The hand-held device uses resistance training to make your inspiratory breathing muscles work harder stamina and resistance to breathing fatigue And exercise – or any physical activity – can help you to manage your blood pressure “Daily ‘breath training’ can work as well as medicine to reduce high blood pressure,” says Allison Aubrey, correspondent for NPR News Aubrey recently became the recipient of the James Beard broadcast award for her coverage of ‘Food As Medicine’ had blood pressure readings near the threshold at which doctors recommend medications “It was a surprise that something as simple as POWERbreathe K-Series could be so profound in terms of its impact It took my blood pressure to under the threshold so that I would not need to take medication.” She says after doing her breath training exercises for five minutes every day as well as for those in the performing arts There is a POWERbreathe IMT breathing trainer suitable for everyone. Find out how the POWERbreathe IMT device works or read more about the types of breathing trainers in What is Inspiratory Muscle Training. These NEW POWERbreathe EX1 Expiratory Muscle Training (EMT) devices use a precisely calibrated spring-loaded ‘pressure threshold’ valve to create a resistance to your out-breath; your exhale. It is similar to weight-lifting and works in the same way that the POWERbreathe Plus IMT devices work to strengthen the muscles you use to breathe in. As you breathe out through the POWERbreathe EX1 Expiratory Muscle Training device, the resistance created by the adjustable training load that you set, exercises your expiratory muscles, improving strength, function and endurance. Rodda’s, a fifth-generation family dairy business based in Redruth, is set to grow with support... McCain, the maker of one in four chips around the world, has taken over digital... Butlers Farmhouse Cheeses’ planning application to build a state-of-the-art cheesemaking campus has been approved by Preston... The Carlsberg Group (“Carlsberg”) is today announcing that its wholly owned subsidiary Carlsberg UK Holdings... The UK’s leading producer of 100% pure, gluten-free oats, Glebe Farm Foods, has today announced... As 2024 draws to a close, Fyffes, a global leader in tropical produce, reflects on... Exercise and diet are common ways to improve high blood pressure but new research has shown that 5 minutes of breathing training a day can improve high blood pressure as well as walking 30 minutes a day Time-Efficient Inspiratory Muscle Strength Training Lowers Blood Pressure and Improves Endothelial Function and Oxidative Stress in Midlife / Older Adults With Above-Normal Blood Pressure | Journal of the American Heart Association then put the inhalation port into your mouth and inhale vigorously an integrated physiologist at the University of Colorado at Boulder conducted experiments on 36 adults aged 50 to 79 years with systolic blood pressure above normal at 120 mmHg or higher Half of the subjects performed high-resistance IMST for 5 minutes daily and 6 times a week for 6 weeks and the other half performed low-resistance IMST under the same conditions Exercise time of 5 minutes is equivalent to 30 deep breaths the high-resistance IMST group reduced systolic blood pressure by an average of 9 points after the experimental period This is equivalent to the effect of walking 30 minutes a day The research team also states that it corresponds to the effect of drug therapy with antihypertensive agents 'The improvement in systolic blood pressure seen this time is clinically significant reducing the risk of death from cardiovascular disease by 30-40%.' It should be noted that the improvement in blood pressure of the subjects continued even after the high resistance IMST was stopped 'Not only is it more time-efficient than traditional exercise programs but the benefits can be long-lasting,' said Daniele Craighead of the University of Arizona Mister Donut collaborated with BAKE CHEESE TART & Zaku Zaku to conquer all 6 new donuts of 'misdo meets BAKE & ZAKUZAKU' The world's first PC equipped with 'air cooling system that breathes by magnetic force' is born Jul 02, 2021 21:00:00 in Science,   Video