MARCH 31, 2008

Great fitness begins with a walk. Walking is an ideal form of exercise for many reasons. You don't need special equipment to do it, it can be done by almost anyone, and you can do it almost anywhere! As an added bonus, there are numerous health benefits from starting a regular walking program:
Good for your heart: Walking regularly can result in a reduction of high blood pressure and high cholesterol, both of which contribute to heart disease.
Improves balance: This can help lower your risk of falls. This risk increases as we get older.

• Strengthens bones and joints: Walking is easier on your joints than running or aerobics (which are high impact activities). It also reduces your risk for osteoporosis.
  
• Weight control, more energy, better sleep: All benefits of a regular physical activity program.
  
• Exercise Extra: Walking shouldn't hurt. If it does, see your family physician. (SparksPeople)

DID YOU KNOW that four 10-minute strolls will do more to lower your blood pressure than a 40-minute walk?
That's what Indiana University researchers report in the September 2006 issue of the Journal of Hypertension. They compared the effects of the four short walks to one long walk in reducing blood pressure in 20 people with a condition known as prehypertension. A person with prehypertension would be "135 over 90." This elevated blood pressure level usually progresses to high blood pressure, which is often associated with heart attack, heart failure, kidney failure, stroke and blindness. The researchers found that while the short walks and the long walk decreased the participants' blood pressure by the same amount, the effect lasted for 11 hours after the short walks, compared to seven hours after the long walk. (Prevention)

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