The first Wednesday in April is National Walking Day, and that’s TOMORROW! The American Heart Association sponsors this day to remind people about the health benefits of taking a walk. Wear your sneakers (or take them with you) to work, and at some point in the day take a 30-minute walk.
About 80 percent of adults don’t get enough activity to maintain good health. Regular physical activity can help you:
- lower your risk of heart disease and stroke.
- maintain a healthy weight.
- reduce or control blood pressure.
- raise HDL (“good”) cholesterol.
- reduce your risk of diabetes and some kinds of cancer.
- sleep better.
- have more energy to do the things you love.
Physical activity is anything that makes you move your body and burn calories! This includes things like climbing stairs, walking the dog, playing sports and dancing. Of corse this also includes traditional aerobic activities like walking, running, and biking. The simplest change you can make to improve your heart health is to start walking. Maybe you haven’t been active for a while. No problem. Take it step by step and start with just a few minutes a day at first, and then gradually increase your time and distance each week. Statistics show that people tend to stick with walking more than other forms of exercise. It’s free, fun, easy, and a great workout. A walking program is flexible and can be done just about anywhere. It’s easy to make walking a regular and satisfying part of your life.
