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http://www.omniture.com --> Sections Home Page Local News AP News Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Photo Gallery Readers Photo Gallery Sports Tempo Weather Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Readers Choice 2006 Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Our Valley Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend October 10, 2006 Weightlifting? Don't hold your breath Study says doing so might increase risk of glaucoma By Jeannine Stein Los Angeles Times Holding your breath while lifting weights — a common no-no for exercisers — could potentially increase the risk of glaucoma. In a study published in this month's Archives of Ophthalmology, researchers asked 30 men who were regular exercisers and did not have glaucoma to do bench presses while breathing normally and while holding their breath. Their intraocular eye pressure was then measured during the exercises. Pressure increased 62 percent while the subjects were breathing normally, researchers found, but increased by up to 90 percent when they held their breath. Holding air in, says Dr. Geraldo Vieira, lead researcher and chairman of the ophthalmology department at UNIPLAC School of Medicine in Brazil, may lead to a compression of the thoracic veins, which in turn leads to increased pressure in the eye, although breathing during the exercise does raise pressure as well. Glaucoma causes damage to the optic nerve, and eye pressure can damage the nerve fibers that make up the optic nerve. Vieira adds that he often sees people holding their breath while working out. "Usually the trainer tells us not to do that, but sometimes we're not focused on this, so we forget about it and hold the air." He advises that people who regularly strength-train be tested for glaucoma, and those who have the disease check with their physician before exercising. Would you like to respond to this story? If so Click Here to visit our forums. Advertisement Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems Windermere Van Vleet Men's Clothing Southern Oregon Loans --> GMAT Prep Fundraisers Send Flowers Texas Electric Choice Entertainment Guide --> Casinos Canada Trunks, Footlocker Online Casino Reviews Online poker at AbsolutePoker.com