Walking has been shown to have numerous health benefits. Although classed as a low to moderate form of exercise, walking stimulates blood circulation and gets more oxygen to the brain.
For years, medical practitioners have also promoted walking as a means of preventing and managing cardiovascular conditions. Health practitioners advised that walking for an average time of 30 minutes or more a day can lower the risk of heart disease by 35 per cent.
However, a 2003 study found that this is not necessarily the case. Low-intensity exercises like walking will not ward off heart disease. Only strenuous activities such as “jogging, swimming and climbing stairs” help to reduce the risk of CVD.
A peer-reviewed study published on the CDC website in 2019, on the other hand, showed that walking could motivate adults to adopt a more active lifestyle which will help to prevent or manage cardiovascular disease.
Another research study showed that taking more steps a day can help to reduce the risk of CVD and extend your lifespan. The recommended number of steps you should walk each day is at least 7000 steps.
Why Should You Manage Cardiovascular Disease?
Cardiovascular diseases are the world’s leading cause of death. The World Health Organisation shows that are responsible for 16% of all deaths. In 2019 Ischaemic heart disease accounted for 8.9 million deaths.
Heart disease is also the highest rising cause of death since 2000, rising more than 2 million in the last 20 years. Too many people live unhealthy lifestyles.
The American Heart Association recommends taking action to prevent heart disease early in life. An obvious choice is to take responsibility for your physical health by exercising.
For most adults, walking is an easy exercise. It’s certainly a low-entry exercise for individuals that are overweight or if you haven’t exercised for a while.
Walking can help you to become accustomed to moving more regularly – and sticking to an exercise routine. Once your body adapts, you can start to step up your exercise program to something more vigorous.
Brisk walking has been shown to be an exercise program that has the same if not more health benefits than running. So you don’t have to go flat out even when you do build up fitness and stamina.
Walking Does More Than Manage Heart Disease
Walking is not only good for your heart and blood circulation but there are also many other benefits as well. And to show we are not biased, here is a list of health benefits you get from walking published on the Heart Foundation website.
- manage weight, blood pressure and blood cholesterol
- prevent and control diabetes
- reduce your risk of developing some cancers
- maintain your bone density, reducing your risk of osteoporosis and fractures
- improve balance and coordination, reducing your risk of falls and other injuries
- improve our daily mood which cumulatively leads to better mental health
If you’re suffering from CVD, it would be wise to start a regular exercise routine. To help encourage you, sweatcoin has developed an app that counts your steps and converts them into a digital currency.
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