Health and Fitness Day Just for Women is September 29

Oceanside, NY, September 24, 2010 --(PR.com)-- On Wednesday, September 29, 2010, more than 1,400 groups across the country will celebrate National Women's Health and Fitness Day, hosting women’s health and fitness events at senior centers, hospitals, health clubs, parks and recreation centers, local health and service organizations, schools, retirement communities, houses of worship, and other community locations.

Organized and promoted by the Health Information Resource Center, or the HIRC, National Women's Health and Fitness Day was created to encourage women to take control of their health, to learn the facts they need to make good health choices, and to make time for regular physical activity. The Nurse Practitioners Association of Long Island (NPALI) encourages women across Long Island to celebrate the day by making a commitment to learn more about their health and wellness and to take at least 30 minutes out of their busy schedules to do their favorite exercises.

Nurse practitioners across Long Island advises all healthy women aged 18 to 65 adhere to the American College of Sports Medicine’s suggestion to begin a plan of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity for a minimum of 30 minutes five days each week or vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity for a minimum of 20 minutes three days each week.

Women can meet the recommendation by walking briskly for 30 minutes twice during the week and then jogging for 20 minutes on two other days. Moderate-intensity aerobic activity, which is generally equivalent to a brisk walk, can be accumulated toward the 30-minute minimum by performing walks each lasting 10 or more minutes. Vigorous-intensity activity is exemplified by jogging. Women should also consider strength and endurance routines a minimum of two times per week.

Based in Hauppauge, NY, the Nurse Practitioner Association of Long Island (NPALI) is a chapter of the Nurse Practitioner Association of New York State. NPALI was formed in 1980, and works in concert with the state organization for the purpose of uniting, representing, and advocating for the profession.

Nurse practitioners (NPs) are registered nurses who are prepared, through advanced education and clinical training, to provide a wide range of preventive and acute health care services to individuals of all ages. NPs complete graduate-level education preparation that leads to a master’s degree. NPs take health histories and provide complete physical examinations; diagnose and treat many common acute and chronic problems; interpret laboratory results and X-rays; prescribe and manage medications and other therapies; provide health teaching and supportive counseling with an emphasis on prevention of illness and health maintenance; and refer patients to other health professionals as needed. NPs are authorized to practice across the nation and have prescriptive privileges, of varying degrees, in 49 states. The most recent Health Resources and Services Administration Sample Survey report (2008) shows 158,348 Nurse Practitioners in the United States, an increase of more than 12 percent over 2004 data. The actual number of nurse practitioners in 2006 is estimated to be at least 145,000.

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