Which cardio machine is right for you? FitSugar reader JessicaSmithTV asks an expert for the answers. She shared what she found in our 10 Pounds Down! community group. The stair master, the stationary bike, and the elliptical – we all have our favorite cardio machine at the gym, but which one is the best one for your body? We asked Dr. Yoav Suprun, DPT, a McKenzie physical therapist at Canyon Ranch in Miami Beach to weigh in on the pros and cons of some of your favorite gym staples. The Stationary Bike Pros: Low impact, easy on the joints, offers a wide range of intensity options Cons: The riding position can bring on back pain, or aggravate sciatica for some. “We flex our spine all day and sit for hours – why sit for a cardio session?” asks Dr. Suprun. The Elliptical Pros: Low impact, upright position of the body, also easy on the joints and offers a wide range of intensity options Cons: If you have a small structure or small frame, using an elliptical with handles would be pulling your body out of alignment. “People suffer from holding the handles as it pulls on the lower back and neck once the handle is moved forward,” explains Dr. Suprun. Keep reading for more pros and cons of your favorite cardio machines.

People treated for low-back pain tend to improve greatly in the first six weeks but the pain and disability in some people may linger for a year, a new review suggests.

We spend about a third of our lives in slumberland, but many people complain of not sleeping well. If you have a tough time falling asleep or you toss and turn in the middle of the night, try exercising during the day and limiting alcohol and caffeine a few hours before bedtime. But if you are doing this already and still have troubles, here are three things to do immediately before hitting the hay to calm your body and mind and help you get the restful night of sleep you crave. The Power of Water Twenty minutes before bedtime, dim the lights in the bathroom, turn on some relaxing tunes on your iPhone and take a warm shower or bath. The heat soothes achy muscles, and the steam clears your sinuses, which is essential if allergy symptoms prevent you from sleeping well at night. It’s also a great way to wash away germs and prevent you from getting sick, which can also make it difficult to sleep. Bye-Bye Pains After your 10-minute warm bath or shower, slip into your PJs and do five minutes of stretching to ease any pains that prevent you from sleeping. Lower back pain is common for many, so if yours bothers you, here’s a yoga sequence to offer back pain relief . If a sore neck and shoulders are your woe, do these soothing stretches . A little self-massage can also ease muscle tension, or apply a heating pad or one of those rice pillows you warm up in the microwave to sore areas. Get Bored Now slip into bed, not with a riveting, can’t-put-it-down book, but one that has a dull, monotonous, stale topic that’s bound to have your eyelids drooping in minutes. Be sure to read from an actual book, not a laptop or iPad, as the lights cue your brain to wake up.

Look out Viagra – there's a new erectile dysfunction drug in town. It's called Stendra (aka Avanafil) and it's newly approved by the Food and Drug Administration, making it the first ED drug to come out in almost 10 years. Although Stendra has not been tested against what is known as the "Little Blue Pill," drug makers say that – for some men – it may work faster. "If things are heated up, theoretically you can get improved function earlier, within 15 minutes, with this drug," said Dr. Irwin Goldstein, director of sexual medicine at Alvarado Hospital in San Diego, and co-author of a recent study about Stendra in the Journal of Sexual Medicine. "You can argue this is the first potential on-demand drug." The "on-demand" drug could end up in high demand for men with ED who do not respond to drugs like Viagra, Cialis and Levitra. Goldstein, who has authored more than 300 studies in the field of sexual dysfunction, said that early data suggests Stendra may perform faster than other ED drugs, but that must be proven in a larger, real-world population. Goldstein and his team studied 1,267 men who took a 50, 100 or 200 milligram dose of Stendra – or placebo – about 30 minutes before engaging in sexual activity. The men filled out questionnaires indicating, for example, how long it took before they engaged in sexual intercourse or became aroused. "For some men it works in 15 minutes, for some men it took longer," said Goldstein. To be clear, no one is suggesting that men should drop Viagra – or any other of the popular ED drugs– for Stendra. "There is no drug that is the best," said Dr. Laurence Levine, a professor in the department of Urology at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, who was not a part of the Stendra study. "Each patient's own chemistry may make one drug better than another. There are certain advantages and disadvantages to all of these drugs." Stendra is another option in a field of effective and safe drugs, said Levine. A small minority of patients experienced side effects after taking Stendra, according to the study, including headaches, flushing, nasal congestion and back pain. And overall, patients taking any ED drug – all of which work similarly – should be aware of rare side effects like sudden loss of vision or hearing, according to the FDA. Filed under: Men’s Health , Senior Health , Sex Tagged: Stephanie Smith -CNN Medical Producer

iStockphoto Here’s what’s making health news this morning: Police, Pills Mills and Privacy (WSJ): Kentucky’s Senate is considering a vote as early as today on restricting pain-clinic ownership to licensed doctors, amid an epidemic of addiction to prescription painkillers. Measles Cases Rose in 2011 (New York Times): The CDC said there were 222 cases in the U.S. last year, though outbreaks are rare compared with Europe. Doctors Group Tells Patients to Go for Cheaper, High-Value Treatments (NPR’s Shots blog): Newly diagnosed patients with diabetes and back pain should probably skip expensive tests and treatments in favor of reliable, cheaper ones, the American College of Physicians says. Everest Climbers in Test for Keys to Heart Treatment (Reuters): The nine climbers, now acclimatizing, will wear gear like a special watch and an arm band to measure cardiovascular activity. E.U. Regulator Wants Stronger Warnings for Novartis’s Gilenya (WSJ): The European Medicines Agency made the request following a review of the multiple-sclerosis drug prompted by reports of heart problems. Novo Nordisk Rejects Public Citizen Assertion on Victoza (Bloomberg News): The Danish drug company said the benefits of the diabetes drug outweighed the risks after the U.S. group said it should be removed from the market.

After your run, your legs are probably in need of a good stretch. But it’s not all quads, hamstrings, and glutes. Don’t forget these areas when stretching after your jog. Hip flexors: Combat all that forward propelling (and desk sitting) with stretches that open up and loosen those all-important hip flexors. Tight hip flexors can lead to back pain and a limited range of motion, so make sure you incorporate some of these hip flexor stretches into your postrun routine. IT band: Regular runners know that stretching your iliotibial (IT) band is very important, but if you’ve never had problems, it’s easy to neglect the tendon that runs down the outer side of your leg. Prevent painful IT and knee problems before they happen by keeping your body loose with this standing IT band stretch . Calves: Calves have the luxury of being among some of the most-used muscles in your body, but many people ignore them after a run, which can lead to an overly tight and inflexible pair. After you finish a run, find a curb or wall and do one of these seven calf stretches regularly. Toe stretches: Your lower digits can use some attention too. Keep your toes happy and help prevent plantar fasciitis by doing a minute of toe scrunches after your run (or regularly throughout your day). Besides these often-neglected areas, there are several other important stretches you should be doing to ensure you keep your muscles strong and flexible and prevent injury. Try this postrun stretching sequence after your next jog, or incorporate this yoga sequence for runners into your routine.

Running is one of the most popular forms of exercise, because besides burning major calories and toning your tush, it costs pennies compared to other sports. If you’re a runner at heart, be sure to avoid these three most common mistakes. Wearing Sneakers For Too Long Your trusty old pair was there for you when you shaved two minutes off your 10K time and later conquered your first half, but that doesn’t mean you should wear them forever. The lack of cushion and shock absorption that comes from wear and tear can result in foot pain or a more serious injury - make sure to retire an old pair every 200 to 350 miles (about four to six months, depending on how much you run). You could always buy the exact same pair you know and love, but if you’re looking for a new sole mate, here are tips on how to find the perfect pair of running sneakers . Skipping the Postrun Stretch Session It’s hard enough squeezing in a run during your busy day, but stretching those muscles you worked so hard is a must. Increasing flexibility in often-tight hamstrings, calves, shins, and quads can prevent shin splints and runner’s knee, as well as lower back pain. A good stretching session can also prevent tomorrow’s soreness. Try this yoga sequence to loosen tight hips and hamstrings . Being Married to Running You love running. We get it. And even if you’re training for your first marathon, running as your sole form of exercise is a big no-no. Since overusing the same muscles can cause repetitive stress injuries, incorporate other forms of exercise into your routine. Biking, swimming, yoga, and strength training are perfect complements because they’ll strengthen other muscles, which will make you a faster runner with better endurance. Not to mention, taking a break from running makes you love it even more.

Fun issues like nausea, fatigue, shortness of breath, and the need to hit the ladies’ room - three different times during a workout! – makes it difficult to keep up with a regular exercise routine when pregnant. If you’re expecting, taking up yoga (or continuing to go) is wonderful because not only does it alleviate some of these annoying discomforts, your body will stay strong and flexible. No prenatal yoga class offered in your area? Take a regular class, but be sure to avoid the following during your practice. Deep forward bends: Folding forward can compress blood vessels and nerves that connect to your uterus. Keep things flowing by separating your legs like in this Wide-Legged Forward Bend to make space at the top of the thighs. Deep twists: This can also decrease circulation, so always twist in an open position as in this pose , not deeply across the knee. Lying on your back: Once you hit the second trimester, avoid lying on your back for extended periods of time (as in Savasana). The increased weight of your uterus interferes with the flow of blood and nutrients to your developing baby. It can also aggravate lower back pain, heartburn, and elevate blood pressure. Use blocks and bolsters to prop your torso up instead of lying flat, and whenever possible find ways to stretch the same muscles while you’re standing, sitting, on your hands and knees, or when lying on your side. Poses that work your abs: As your belly expands, it’s difficult to support the weight with your rectus abdominus (the muscles you see when someone has a six-pack), so you use your obliques (ab muscles on the side of your belly). Overly-strong obliques can pull your abdominal muscles apart, causing a condition known as diastasis. Avoid risk by skipping poses that target your core, especially your obliques – worry about getting your abs back in shape after the baby arrives. Keep reading for more prenatal yoga no-nos.

iStockphoto Many medical tests and procedures are performed when they aren’t needed, a new campaign by several doctors’ groups says. The initiative, coordinated by the foundation affiliated with the American Board of Internal Medicine , will initially focus on 45 medical services — five each produced by nine different doctor-specialty societies. It will later add future lists from other specialties. The lists will be publicized by Consumers Union’s Consumer Reports, AARP and other consumer groups, says Dr. Christine Cassel , the foundation’s CEO. “We’re not saying they should never be done, we’re saying these are often unnecessary, and therefore the patients should ask the doctor, ‘Gee, do I need this?’” Cassel tells the Health Blog. The campaign, dubbed “Choosing Wisely,” comes amid intense pressure to rein in growing health-care costs. Doctors are trying to take the initiative from insurers. “We’re better positioned to do this than insurance companies,” Cassel says. Many of the examples on the initial lists, such as imaging scans, focus on services and situations that have long drawn concern about overuse. The American Society of Nuclear Cardiology noted several circumstances in which cardiac imaging wasn’t typically necessary. For instance, it said, patients with chest pain who are at low risk of cardiac death or a heart attack don’t typically need stress echocardiography. The American College of Radiology said doctors often shouldn’t do imaging for uncomplicated headaches. The American College of Physicians said imaging studies aren’t usually needed for non-specific lower-back pain. Some of the suggestions may spark debate. The American Academy of Family Physicians says antibiotics shouldn’t routinely be initially prescribed for acute mild or moderate sinus infections. Yet doctors say they often come under pressure from patients with sinus symptoms who want to be prescribed antibiotics. Likely to be touchier is the recommendation from the American Society of Clinical Oncology that doctors should typically steer away from chemotherapy or radiation therapy for patients with solid tumors who aren’t doing well, don’t qualify for a research trial, haven’t responded to multiple past treatments and show no strong evidence that they will benefit from new ones. Instead, such patients may do better with palliative care aimed at easing their pain and other symptoms, says Dr. Lowell Schnipper , the chairman of the society’s task force on the cost of cancer care and a professor at Harvard Medical School. The decision has to be up to individual patients and doctors, Schnipper says, but it’s important to “help the patient understand that more cancer-directed treatment is not likely to be helpful” under those circumstances. Indeed, research has shown that it may lead to shorter survival times than the palliative therapy, he said.

Forty-five tests and procedures routinely performed on patients are often unnecessary, according to a report released Wednesday by nine physician groups, the Consumers Union , and the American Board of Internal Medicine Foundation . “Many of the things that are routinely done are things that patients have come to expect and doctors have routinely ordered,” said Dr. Christine Cassel, president and CEO of the ABIM Foundation. “These are not things that should never be done, but they are things that are often overused.” It's more ammunition to ask your doctor whether your tests and treatments are necessary, especially given that patients request many of them. “Often the doctors will say the patients are asking for these things,” Cassel told CNN. The groups looked at the scientific rational for performing each of the tests and procedures listed in the report. According to the doctors, here are five tests you often do not need: 1. A CT scan or MRI scan after fainting If your behavior is normal (no seizures or neurological problems) then a brain scan is unlikely to improve your outcome. 2. An annual cardiac stress test If you're otherwise healthy, repeating the test every year or so rarely changes the course of your treatment. But additional tests could lead to more invasive tests and unwanted radiation, according to the American College of Cardiology . 3. A chest x-ray before outpatient surgery If you have a moderate to good functioning heart you probably don’t need the scan as part of your assessment before a low risk surgery. “There’s good evidence that adding a chest x-ray before you have the surgery doesn’t pick up abnormalities that the doctor needs to know about before the operation,” Dr. Cassel said. 4. A back scan within the first six weeks of lower back pain When a physical exam of your back fails to find the source of your pain, a back scan isn’t likely to reveal the source of your pain and therefore won't improve the outcome – but it will drive up costs. 5. A repeat colorectal cancer screening Beginning at age 50, one high-quality colonoscopy every 10 years is all you need if your results are normal. The website ChoosingWisely.org lists all 45 tests and procedures featured in the report.  It was developed by these doctors' groups along with Consumer Reports and the American Board of Internal Medicine Foundation to help doctors control the cost of U.S. health care. “This is about getting rid of the fat in the system," said Cassel. "Getting rid of waste." Filed under: Caregiving , Empowered Patient , Health Tagged: John Bonifield – CNN Medical Producer