AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION Walk this way - or any way - to better health By: American Heart Association News When it comes to simple ways to be healthy, walking is all the rage. Whether you’re taking a leisurely stroll through your neighborhood or a power-walk in the park, taking part in physical activity is one of the best ways to manage stress, reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke and boost your mood. Research has shown that walking at a brisk pace at least 150 minutes a week has significant health benefits. Improved blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels, increased energy and stamina and improved mental and emotional well-being are among the benefits. Walking at least 150 minutes per week also has been associated with reduced risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and several types of cancer. If 150 minutes sounds like a lot, remember that even short activity sessions can be added up over the week to reach this goal. And it’s easy to fit in a few minutes of walking several times a day. This could be 10 minutes of brisk walking after breakfast, lunch and dinner. “Walking is a great way to improve your health and your mental outlook, and it doesn’t take a lot of expensive sporting equipment to do it,” said Donna K. Arnett, M.S.P.H., Ph.D., B.S.N., a past president of the American Heart Association (2012-2013) and the dean and a professor in the department of epidemiology of the University of Kentucky College of Public Health in Lexington. “Put on a good pair of shoes and grab a water bottle and you’re ready to go.”
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