Health Tip Of The Week: I Walk, You Walk And We'll All Walk

Main Category: Cardiovascular / Cardiology
Also Included In: Sports Medicine / Fitness
Article Date: 08 Oct 2008 - 1:00 PDT

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October is 'International walk to school month', so children, parents, teachers and community leaders lets all get together and walk to school and work and enjoy the healthy benefits of walking- remember it costs nothing!

Walking allows you to:

Get more active all year round and increase fitness
Reduce your risk of heart disease and strokes
Improve your circulation and lower blood pressure
Manage stress and relieve tension
Prevent and control weight gain
Build and maintain healthy bones, muscles and joints
Share valuable time together with friends and family
Reduce traffic congestion, pollution and speed
Raise awareness of how walkable a community is

Did you know:

Walking to school makes children more alert
Many children really enjoy walking to school with friends
Walking buses allow children to walk together accompanied by adults
A brisk 1 mile walk uses as much energy as swimming for 10 minutes, playing football for 12 minutes or aerobics for 16 minutes

So don't be a couch potato:

If you're unable to walk all the way drive but park further away
Get off the train/tube/bus a stop or 2 early
Go for a walk on your lunch break
Don't take the lift, use the stairs
Choose safe routes and be aware of the Highway Code
Get moving, start walking and get that heart pumping
So come on let's all get walking and reap the benefits of getting our hearts pumping

http://www.heartresearch.org.uk