Importance of health and fitness for the wellness of your heart.
For many people, outdoor sports and activities are a great way to break out of the house and enjoy some good, quality time spent outside with nature. Whether you enjoy rock climbing, skiing, hiking, bike riding or even going on a daily walk around your neighborhood, daily exercise in the presence of nature has been shown to increase our mood, our mind and our overall health. Plus, for many outdoor enthusiasts, getting outside for a good workout is a great way to relieve stress and get a little "me time" back into your day.
However, while most everyone is aware that exercise and fitness can go a long way towards keeping our bodies and minds healthy, very few people understand the full extent to which daily fitness can benefit our health and well-being
in the long run. For instance, in honor of National Heart Awareness Month in February, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are spreading the word about how much a little walking and exercise can do for your hearts health.
In North America, heart attacks are the leading cause of premature deaths. Especially among women, it is at an even higher risk with over 8.6 million American women currently living with heart disease. That means that women are 4 to 6 times more likely to die of heart disease than of breast cancer.
To help you get a better idea of how dangerous this disease is, as well as the simple steps that you can take in order to prevent heart disease, we have put together some basic facts about heart disease prevention and awareness
About Heart Disease
In 2010, an estimated 785,000 Americans had a new coronary heart attack, and about 470,000 had a recurrent attack. This makes heart disease the leading cause of death in the United States, and it is a major cause of disability. However, what many people do not realize is that the chance of developing a coronary heart disease can be significantly reduced simply by taking the necessary steps to prevent and control factors that put people at risk. This includes diabetes, tobacco use, obesity, high cholesterol, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, etc.
Walking For Your Heart
Many recent studies have shown that walking regularly not only helps to improve the efficiency to the heart muscle
, but it also aids blood flow faster and freer around the body. In fact, walking briskly can reduce coronary heart disease risk in women by as much as 30 and 40 percent, and becoming more active can lower your blood pressure by as much as four to nine points.
However, it is not just those that lead an overly active lifestyle that lower their risk of heart disease. Women aged 40-65 who walk at least 3 hours a week have a 40% lower risk of heart attack and stroke, and even those who walk at a slower pace have a 32% lower risk of heart disease compared with those who do not walk at all.
So, as if you needed another reason to get outside and soak up the sun
, studies are now showing the walking may just be what your body needs to ward off any dangerous diseases in your future.