The Caring Corner®
The Caring Corner – Go a Little Faster
Everyone knows that exercise is good for your health. Even simple walking on a regular basis can add years to your life. A team of researchers found that picking up the pace a little bit adds a few extra years. They concluded that walking speed is linked to the risk of dying early from heart disease and other conditions. Researchers examined data from more than 500,000 study participants who reported their speed while walking: slow, average, fairly brisk and fast; they also reported other health measures for a period of nine years. During the study, over 3600 other participants passed away.
People who consider themselves to be fast had an approximately 20% lower risk of death from heart disease. Among older walkers above the age of 60, the impact was even greater. Fast-paced walkers experienced a 53% risk reduction. The bottom line: to get the maximum benefit for your health, walk at a pace that makes you slightly sweaty or a little bit out of breath.
