HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Taking just a few steps a day, maybe keeping the doctor away. According to the American Heart Association, studies have shown that walking just thirty to sixty minutes per day can drastically improve your health and reduce the risk of diseases like diabetes, heart disease and cancer. It can even prevent serious health complications for people suffering from peripheral artery disease (PAD) which affects more than 8.5 million Americans.
Alabama resident Meghan Underwood said, "I think having goals, no matter what they are or whether it's just starting to implement walking a few minutes every day or trying to train for ultramarathons or whatever it is that motivates you to just get out the door and get moving is what matters," she explained.
6,000 steps improves overall health, and American Heart Association Volunteer Expert Dr. Antonio Gutierrez said, "As little as 6,000 steps a day will result in significant improvement in overall health, such as a decrease in blood pressure and cholesterol. you will see an increase in your overall mood, energy improvement and your quality of sleep. And you will also see a decrease in your overall levels of stress."
Dr. Gutierrez said walking also assists in prevention of serious health complications such as Peripheral Artery Disease, also known as PAD. "What pad is just like we can get blockages in the arteries of the lot of the heart. you can also get them in the legs. Now, if you have pad, the problem is that you may experience pain in your legs as there's cramping or burning when you walk, especially going up an incline," said Dr. Gutierrez.
Underwood believes any kind of exercise in general is not only beneficial for physical health, but mental health also. "It's so very important, obviously, for all different aspects of physical health and for disease prevention and just for overall wellness and wellbeing," she iterated.
The American Heart Association also explains that walking 1 mile per hour is the average speed of a human. Creativity can boost by 60% from walking. Furthermore, just 15 minutes of walking can curb sugar cravings. To learn more about PAD, click here. Or you could, next time you're at your doctor's office, ask them a few questions about PAD...just in light of national walking day coming up on April 5th, please go out there. "Start with what you can. That doesn't matter what it is and slowly build up. Just give it a try," Dr. Gutierrez stated.