The "Walking Works" report (UK)

Tens of thousands of lives could be saved each year in the UK if people got off the sofa and stretched their legs more, say charities. The "Walking Works" report by the Ramblers and Macmillan Cancer Support said walking was a free activity which could transform people's health. Being physically active decreases the odds of heart problems and stroke. But it also makes a difference in other conditions such as type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer's disease and many cancers. Recently a British Medical Journal study showed that exercise was as good a medicine as pills for some conditions including heart diseases and another study showed walking at least an hour a day significantly cut the risk of breast cancer. The latest report said that if everyone, in England alone, did the recommended 150 minutes of moderate physical exercise every week it would: save 37,000 lives each year; prevent 6,700 cases of breast cancer; stop 4,700 people getting colorectal cancer; lead to nearly 300,000 fewer cases of type 2 diabetes

Walking to work tied to lower diabetes risk (UK)

People who walk to work are 40 percent less likely to develop diabetes and 17 percent less likely to develop high blood pressure than those who drive, according to a new study. Researchers analyzed data from 20,000 U.K. residents to examine how the ways they traveled to work affected their health. Walking, cycling and using public transit all were linked to a lower risk of being overweight than driving or taking a taxi. People who bicycled to work were about half as likely to have diabetes as those who commuted by car. The study also found that 19 percent of people who used private transport - such as cars, motorcycles or taxis - to get to work were obese, contrasted with 15 percent of those who walked and 13 percent of those who cycled. Modes of getting to work varied widely in different parts of the United Kingdom. For example, 52 percent of people in London used public transit, compared with 5 percent in Northern Ireland, according to the study appearing August 6 in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. High blood pressure, diabetes and being overweight all are major risk factors for heart and circulatory disease. The new findings show that people could reduce their risks of serious health problems such as heart attacks by avoiding car commutes, the researchers said

Brisk walking equals running for heart health: study

Brisk walking is as good as running for reducing blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes risk - three key players in the development of heart disease, a new study finds. It's a matter of how far you walk or run, not how long, said Paul Williams, a staff scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in Berkeley, California. "Both of these activities reduce risk factors, and if you expend the same amount of energy you get the same benefit," Williams said. The key was the more people walked or ran each week, the more their health improved, he said. The findings suggest "there is now some choice in the exercise you want to do," he said. Some people find running more convenient, others prefer walking, especially people just starting to exercise, he noted. The advantage of running is you can cover twice as much ground in the same amount of time as you would walking, Williams pointed out. Williams is referring to brisk walking, however. "Walking for exercise. It's not a mosey kind of thing, but actually walking for exercise," he explained. For the study, published online April 4 in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, Williams and Dr. Paul Thompson, a cardiologist at Hartford Hospital in Connecticut, collected data from the National Runners' Health Study and the National Walkers' Health Study. More than 33,000 runners and nearly 16,000 walkers were involved

Regular walks could keep you on the path to a healthy heart

Taking regular walks significantly reduces the risk of Metabolic Syndrome, according to researchers. Metabolic Syndrome is a term used to describe a combination of cardiovascular risk factors, including high blood pressure and blood sugar, and excess weight around your middle. Researchers examined the fitness of 38,000 men and women before categorising their fitness levels as either 'low', 'moderate' or 'high'. Those in the 'moderate' category were less likely to suffer from Metabolic Syndrome compared to those in the 'low' group. Doireann Maddock, Senior Cardiac Nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said: "This study shows that people who have a moderate level of fitness have less chance of developing cardiovascular risk factors, such as high blood pressure and cholesterol. "We all know how important it is to keep active, but many of us struggle to fit exercise into our daily routine. This research confirms that physical activity doesn't have to mean spending hours in the gym - simple but regular exercise, such as walking, can have real health benefits. "Building up to a brisk 30 minute walk on five days a week will help to raise your fitness levels and keep your heart healthy." This research was published online by the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings

A daily brisk walk halves heart attack risk (UK)

People who go on a fast daily walk have been found to have a 50 per cent lower chance of having a heart attack or stroke than those who don't. This power walking was even found to be more effective than jogging, which lowered it by 40 per cent. Walking daily but at a leisurely pace was found to have little to no effect on heart attack or stroke risk, suggesting it's intensity rather than time when it comes to exercise. The findings were published by Danish scientists in the BMJ Open. They spent a decade studying the health of 4,000 volunteers aged between 21 and 98. The scientists compared the chances of developing 'metabolic syndrome', a term that collectively describes a number of conditions including obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Those with metabolic syndrome are more likely to suffer from heart attack or stroke as they get older. The report stated: "Significantly lower risk of metabolic syndrome was found in the moderately and highly physically active groups compared to their sedentary counterparts." But the team added: "Light physical activity and even more than one hour of walking daily did not confer protection against metabolic syndrome." The important difference between a slow stroll and a more intense brisk or 'power' walk is that a faster walk increases the heart rate. The heart is a muscle, so it needs working out and getting it to move faster is the key to preventing heart attack and stroke. Senior Cardiac Nurse at the British Heart Foundation Maureen Talbot said: "If you want to make the walk to work or to the shops part of keeping your heart healthy then try turning it from a leisurely stroll into a power walk to get the benefits."

People who walk a lot have lower type 2 diabetes risk: study

Among people at high risk for diabetes who get very little exercise, those who manage to walk more throughout the day are less likely to actually develop the blood sugar disorder, according to a U.S. study. Earlier studies have shown that walking more is tied to a lower risk of diabetes, but few studies have looked into precise measures of how many steps people take each day, said Amanda Fretts, lead author of the study and a researcher at the University of Washington in Seattle. “Our finding wasn’t surprising given that other studies have shown that even light activity is associated with a lower risk of diabetes,” Fretts wrote in an email to Reuters Health

Walking could be a useful tool in treating depression

Something as simple as going for a brisk stroll could play an important role in fighting depression, according to researchers in Scotland. Vigorous exercise has already been shown to alleviate symptoms of depression, but the effect of less strenuous activities was unclear. A study in the journal Mental Health and Physical Activity showed walking had a "large effect" on depression. One in 10 people may have depression at some point in their lives. The condition can be treated with drugs, but exercise is commonly prescribed by doctors for mild symptoms. Researchers at the University of Stirling scoured academic studies to find data on one of the mildest forms of exercise - walking. They found eight studies, on a total of 341 patients, which fitted the bill

Walking cuts genetic effect of obesity

Walking briskly for an hour a day can help those with a genetic tendency toward obesity, U.S. researchers said. Study author Qibin Qi, a postdoctoral research fellow at Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, and colleagues said the study examined 7,740 women and 4,564 men from the Nurses' Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-up Study - involving men working in the healthcare industry. Researchers collected data on physical activity and TV watching two years prior to assessing body mass index, and calculated a genetic predisposition score based on 32 established BMI-predisposing genetic variants. "While previous studies have looked at how physical activity affects genetic predispositions, this is the first study that directly looked at the effect of the sedentary behavior of television watching on the BMI of individuals with a genetic predisposition to obesity," Qi said in a statement. "In our study, a brisk 1-hour daily walk reduced the genetic influence toward obesity, measured by differences in BMI by half. On the other hand, a sedentary lifestyle marked by watching television 4 hours a day increased the genetic influence by 50 percent." The findings were presented at the American Heart Association's Epidemiology and Prevention/Nutrition, Physical Activity and Metabolism scientific sessions in San Diego

Walking increases bloodflow to the brain, study says

Brisk walking can boost blood flow to your brain, according to a new study from the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Institute for Exercise and Environmental Medicine in Dallas. A team of researchers, led by Rong Zhang, analyzed data they collected over the course of three months from 16 women aged 60 and older. At the beginning of the study, the researchers used Doppler ultrasonography to measure blood flow in the arteries that supply oxygen-rich blood and glucose to the brain. They then created specific work out regimens for each participant, which, depending on their level of fitness, added up to an average of 30 to 50 minutes of walking three to four times a week. At the end of three months, their findings show that blood flow to the brain had increased by 15 percent. "There are many studies that suggest that exercise improves brain function in older adults, but we don't know exactly why the brain improves. Our study indicates it might be tied to an improvement in the supply of blood flow to the brain," Zhang said in a press release. The study also found that, overall, the women's blood pressure decreased by about four percent, their heart rates declined by five percent, and their body's ability to carry and use oxygen during physical activity rose by 13 percent. The researchers presented the study at the Experimental Biology meeting in Washington D.C.

Walking may keep brain from shrinking in old age

"Walking at least six miles (10 km) a week may be one thing people can do to keep their brains from shrinking and fight off dementia, U.S. researchers said. A study of nearly 300 people in Pittsburgh who kept track of how much they walked each week showed that those who walked at least six miles (10 km) had less age-related brain shrinkage than people who walked less. "Brain size shrinks in late adulthood, which can cause memory problems. Our results should encourage well-designed trials of physical exercise in older adults as a promising approach for preventing dementia and Alzheimer's disease," said Kirk Erickson of the University of Pittsburgh, whose study appears in the journal Neurology. Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia, slowly kills off brain cells, and activities like walking have been shown to build brain volume. Erickson and colleagues tested to see if people who walk a lot might be better positioned to fight off the disease. They studied 299 volunteers who were free of dementia and who kept track of how much they walked"

Walk to school, less heart risk as an adult (USA)

A morning walk or bike ride to school could reduce stress reactivity in children, which is linked to later heart risk, U.S. researchers say. Senior investigator James Roemmich, a University at Buffalo associate professor, and graduate students Maya Lambiase and Heather Barry say cardiovascular reactivity - changes in heart rate and blood pressure due to stress - is associated with the beginnings of cardiovascular disease in children and atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis, in adults, is the build-up of cholesterol, calcium, fat and other substances in artery walls. The research team had 20 boys and 20 girls - all Caucasian, ages10-14 - visit the Behavioral Medicine Research Laboratory. Half of the children sat in a comfortable chair and watched a 10-minute slide show of images of a suburban neighborhood to simulate a ride to school. The other half walked on a treadmill - while images of a suburban neighborhood were projected onto a screen - at a self-selected pace for 1 mile, wearing a book bag containing 10 percent of their body weight. The study, published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, finds, on average, during this activity, heart rate increased by about three beats per minute in children who walked, compared with about 11 beats per minute in children who "rode" to school - UPI

Walking associated with lower stroke risk in women

Women who walked two or more hours a week or who usually walked at a brisk pace (3 miles per hour or faster) had a significantly lower risk of stroke than women who didn't walk, according to a large, long-term study reported in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association. The risks were lower for total stroke, clot-related (ischemic) stroke and bleeding (hemorrhagic) stroke, researchers said. Compared to women who didn't walk:

* Women who usually walked at a brisk pace had a 37 percent lower risk of any type of stroke and those who walked two or more hours a week had a 30 percent lower risk of any type of stroke.
* Women who typically walked at a brisk pace had a 68 percent lower risk of hemorrhagic stroke and those who walked two or more hours a week had a 57 percent lower risk of hemorrhagic stroke.
* Women who usually walked at a brisk pace had a 25 percent lower risk of ischemic stroke and those who usually walked more than two hours a week had a 21 percent lower risk of ischemic stroke - both "borderline significant," according to researchers

Walking test can ID heart-lung fitness, mortality risk

"If you're middle-aged or older, a 10-minute walking test can give you and your doctor a pretty clear picture of whether you are at higher risk of dying during the next few years compared with other people your age, according to a large new analysis of data showing that cardiorespiratory fitness is intimately linked with the risk of dying of just about any cause. However, you probably won't get this exercise test unless you ask for it. The exercise stress test - or, in medical parlance, the graded exercise test - measures your cardiorespiratory fitness, or how well your heart, lungs, muscles, and blood vessels work together to use oxygen and produce energy. There are several ways to do the test, but it basically involves walking or running on a treadmill at progressively steeper inclines or faster speeds under medical supervision" - CNN

Walk for Hearts helps local cardiac care initiatives (Canada)

Walking will benefit local residents with heart disease in more ways than one during the Walk for Hearts. The walk, which is the major fundraiser for the Comox Valley Chapter of the First Open Heart Society, (British Columbia) raises money to support local cardiac-care initiatives. "It's very simple and easy to do a walk, and it does so much, it really does," said Anne Poole, chairperson of the Comox Valley Chapter. "This is First Open Heart, not Heart and Stroke, so our money is local. It stays here." The third annual Walk for Hearts will be held April 26 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., beginning at the Florence Filberg Centre in Courtenay. Participants walk along the river walkway and around the Courtenay Airpark and back. - Comox Valley Record

Drop the heels, hoser, and get walking (Canada)

"Longer days, sunshine that warms your face and sidewalks clear of snow and ice all mean one thing: The walking season has arrived. So shed your winter coat and boots and head outside for a little fresh air and exercise. Why walk? It's affordable, accessible and simple to master. There's no learning curve, no need to wear Lycra and no better way to improve your health and well-being. Going for a daily walk burns unwanted calories, improves heart health, builds stronger bones and reduces the risk of some forms of cancer. It can be done solo, with a buddy or with a pair of earbuds pumping in some solid tunes. Think of it as exercise's Canadian option; understated, underrated and totally forgiving." - Star Phoenix

National Start! Walking Day (USA)

"You can support the fight against heart disease by participating in National Start! Walking Day on Wednesday, April 8. This is the day that adults nationwide (USA) can make the pledge to Start! walking and to become active and heart healthy, especially in the workplace"

Fit-Friendly Companies Program

"The American Heart Association is recognizing employers who go above and beyond when it comes to their employees' health. We want to reward companies for their progressive leadership and highlight their concern for their staff. By doing so, more companies will follow your lead and employ physical activity practices such as:

* Providing walking routes
* Promoting walking programs, online newsletters and tracking tools to motivate employees
* Allowing staff to wear athletic shoes in the workplace on designated 'sneaker day'"

Fall...in motion

"With autumn fast approaching, it's time to get started planning your physical activities and find ways to eat healthy during the fall and winter. To help you get started, October has been declared as in motion month. As a kick off, we are again sponsoring Fall...in motion and the Get Moving Challenge. This kick off will be held in Saskatoon on October 3, 2008 at 12:00 noon at River Landing. There will be a quick warm-up and then a brisk walk along the beautiful Meewasin Trail. If you can't make it to River Landing, consider getting your friends, family or your Forever...in motion group together and be physically active for at least 30 minutes between 11:00 and 1:00 that day. Register your activity at www.in-motion.ca for the chance to win some great prizes. We'll find out how many people were active on October 3 and publish the results in the Star Phoenix and on the in motion website"

Walk to Work Day (Australia)

"Walk to Work Day is an event to promote regular walking and physical activity. It is an annual, national event in which the community can become involved in a healthy and environmentally friendly activity. You can be a Walking Class Hero on Friday 3 October 2008 by simply walking all or part of the way to work. Use public transport and get off the bus, train, tram or ferry a few stops earlier and walk the rest of the way. Or take a half-hour walk at lunch-time. And where possible, walk up stairs. But please leave the car at home. If you have to drive, leave the car at least a kilometre or two from your destination and walk the remaining distance"

Gurnee woman walks to recovery

"Less than a year ago, doctors gave Brooke Lannert of Gurnee, Illinois, a 20 percent chance of surviving the severe stroke she suffered at age 32, the result of heart-related complications. Tomorrow, the 32-year-old participates in the 3-mile Metro Chicago Start! Heart Walk in Grant Park to raise money and awareness about the No. 1 killer of women - heart disease. "This walk means a first step toward recovery for me and toward helping eradicate heart disease for all," said Lannert. Her team, the Heart Beaters, includes 16 friends and family members who have raised $4,000 for the American Heart Association"