Heart disease: Walking for a healthy heart
What do I need to know about starting a walking program?
Try to make a walk an essential part of your day. It's fine to walk for 10 minutes or more at a time throughout your day and week. Being active in small blocks of time throughout your day can be just as good as walking for a longer amount of time a few times a week. Accumulating activity throughout the day helps burn calories and maintain your weight.
Small activities such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator or parking far away and walking to your destination can add up quickly to the minimum recommendation of 2½ hours a week. Be creative. Instead of e-mailing or phoning a coworker, get up and walk to his or her desk. If you need to meet with someone, suggest taking a walk instead of staying inside.
To get the heart-healthy benefits of walking, you need to walk briskly enough to increase your pulse and breathing, but not so fast that you can't talk comfortably.
Test Your Knowledge
It isn't necessary to walk a certain amount of time each day. I can be active in blocks of time that work best for me throughout the day and week.
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Why is walking good for my heart?
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| Author: | Robin Parks, MS | Last Updated: October 8, 2008 |
| Medical Review: | Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine Richard D. Zorowitz, MD - Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation | |
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