Heart Health Benefits of Walking

Did you know that a large proportion of the population does not perform sufficient exercise to maintain optimal health? Did you know that walking can help reduce your risk of heart disease by 30 percent to 40 percent if you do it briskly 3 or more hours a week. Increase your lifespan up to 5 years if you walk 2 or more miles a day.

Did you know that Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men, women, and people of most racial and ethnic groups in the United States?  One person dies every 37 seconds in the United States from cardiovascular disease. About 647,000 Americans die from heart disease each year—that’s 1 in every 4 deaths.

You can reduce the risk of heart disease through simple means of exercise such as walking. Walking requires no special skills or facilities and is achievable by virtually all age groups with little risk of injury. Regular, daily physical activity can lower your risk of heart disease. Physical activity helps you control your weight and reduce your chances of developing other conditions that may put a strain on your heart, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes.

There are many benefits of walking in addition to boosting your cardiovascular fitness. A regular brisk walking routine may help:

• lower your risk for heart disease, stroke, and diabetes

• improve blood flow

• improve cholesterol levels

• manage high blood pressure

• control blood sugar levels

• keep your weight under control

• build stronger muscles and bones

• improve your sleep

• boost your energy levels

• improve brain function

• improve balance and coordination

If you haven’t been active for a while, you may need to slowly work your way up to these goals. You should aim for at least 150 minutes a week of moderate aerobic exercise, such as walking at a brisk pace, this will help promote a healthy heart and lifestyle.

The more we learn together the healthier we can become, and maintain happier hearts.