Adults are spending more time at work than ever before and an unfortunate side effect is that as a nation we are becoming more inactive. Physical inactivity doubles the risk of heart disease. The good news is it is a problem you can fix by encouraging your community and company to take part in the American Heart Association’s National Walking Day on Wednesday, April 1st.
On National Walking Day, Americans are encouraged to lace up their sneakers and take at least 30 minutes out of their day to get up and walk. It’s a great way to raise awareness of the importance of physical activity and to get your family, friends and co-workers started on a healthier way of life. Statistics shows that people stick to walking plans more than other form of physical activity. And walking is one of the easiest and cheapest things you can do to reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke, the nation’s No. 1 and No. 5 killers.
Simply walking has many health benefits, which makes National Walking Day the ideal time to kick-start your physical activity routine. Adults should get at least 150 minutes of physical activity per week, while kids should get 60 minutes of physical activity a day. Physical activity can relieve depression, improve your memory and lower your blood pressure.
In addition to taking 30 minutes out of your day to get up and walk, there’s another way you can participate in National Walking Day. We’ll be hosting a Physical Activity Post Stroke and Heart Attack Conversation on the Support Network, April 1, from 10 a.m. ET to 7 p.m. ET. Topics for the all-day come and go event will include all things physical activity, from cardiac rehab, stroke rehab, walking, jogging, yoga, swimming, and much more. To participate visit, http://supportnetwork.heart.org/NWDregistration.
A different medical professional will participate for every hour of the chat, answering questions related to physical activity and recovery. Join the Support Network, take part in the chat and get your 30 minutes in for a successful National Walking Day.