My wife and I recently began walking at our local high school indoor track and field house. We had become very lazy and somewhat stir crazy with the long cold snowy winter that has overtaken our area of the country. I figured a little bit of exercise certainly wouldn’t hurt and may be of some benefit of easing the winter blues. I figured I would share some of the benefits that walking has to offer in Hopkins MN in improving your overall health.

Walking requires no special equipment or apparatus. A good pair of shoes and a willing spirit can take can take you very far. A partner can make the trip even more fun and rewarding. These interactions help reduce the stress of the day and together reach a common goal of improving your health.

Every Bit of Exercise Helps In Hopkins MN

Studies have shown that even low levels of exercise - about 75 minutes a week - can improve fitness levels significantly. Walking can be performed at your own pace and that pace can be increased as you as you repeat and continue your activity. To get the health benefits, try to walk 30 minutes as briskly as you can on most days of the week. Remember, if you have a medical condition, check with your healthcare provider first before beginning any new exercise program.

A recent report cited by Harvard Medical School in Harvard Health Publishing stated that brisk walking reduced the risk of cardiovascular events by 31% and cut the risk of dying by 32%. These benefits were found equally in both men and women. Protection was evident even at distances of just 5.5 miles per week at a pace as casual as about 2 miles per hour. The people that walked for longer distances and at a faster pace enjoyed the greatest protection.

Walking like other forms of moderate exercise improves cardiac risk factors such as cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, vascular stiffness and inflammation, and mental stress. Studies have also shown that moderate walking exercise can also protect against dementia, peripheral artery disease, depression and colon cancer.

These are just a few of the benefits of walking but hopefully this will encourage you to get up off the couch and take a walk with or for someone you care about. If have any questions regarding your walking activities, exercise program or any aches or pains that result from getting in shape please contact me at my office - call or text- (952) 931-9867. We always have time to help.