Walking is a great way of keeping your heart healthy, so take advantage of Walk to Work Week between 27 April and 1 May. It’s an easy and inexpensive form of exercise suitable for all ages. A brisk walk is the perfect way to strengthen your heart, and counts towards the recommended 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise each day.
Currently in the UK, only 34% of adults are meeting the recommended levels of activity. Physical inactivity is bad for health as it can lead to an increased risk of obesity, diabetes and heart disease. As lack of time is a common reason for lack of exercise, here are a few tips on how to squeeze some exercise into your working day.
• By swapping the car for walking, you are not only benefitting your health, but the environment and your purse too. Think of all those pennies you’ll save on fuel and parking.
• Go for a lunchtime walk to get away from the hustle and bustle of the office and enjoy the fresh air. Don’t let your shoes hold you back, keep a pair of flat walking shoes at work.
• Take the stairs instead of the lift to get your heart beating faster.
• Park the car a little further away from where you’re going, that way you can fit in your walk without a drastic interruption to your routine
Dust off your walking shoes to take advantage of Walk to Work Week and step into a healthier lifestyle for you and your heart.
For more information and advice about healthy living, contact Heart Research UK
on 0113 297 6206 or email lifestyle@heartresearch.org.uk