Daily walking is said to help keep your body healthy. A recent study found that middle-aged adults who walked 6,000 to 9,000 steps per day, or approximately 6 km, were 40 to 50% less likely to suffer from a heart attack or stroke.
The study, published in the journal Circulation, found that the more steps people took, the lower their risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The study found no link between steps taken and CVD risk in young adults.
The study was built on data from eight studies involving 20,152 people aged 18 and up whose walking was measured by a device. Their health was monitored for more than six years.
The reason for this is that CVD is considered an aging disease that is generally not diagnosed until risk factors such as high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes have progressed over time. The study, however, found no additional benefit to people from high-intensity or fast-paced walking.
While the steps were recorded, the study did not examine the relationship between distance and any particular type of cardiovascular disease, such as heart failure or arrhythmia.
An earlier study on the health benefits of walking was published in the Lancet in March 2022, and similar links were found between older adults’ steps and a lower risk of death from any cause. However, in 2020, the American Heart Association recommended walking 10,000 steps or 5 miles per day for health benefits.
Source:IT