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Improve your Heart Health on National Walk to Work Day

By HERWriter
 
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Improve your Heart Health: It's National Walk to Work Day Todd Arena/PhotoSpin

Physical activity is often sacrificed for hectic work schedules and office chairs.

Most people with sedentary lifestyles or desk jobs only take between 1,000 and 3,000 steps per day, far less than the recommended 10,000, according to Thewalkingsite.com.

National Walk to Work Day has been celebrated the first Friday in April since 2004, when it was enacted by former Health and Human Services Secretary, Tommy Thompson.

According to the American Heart Association’s website, being inactive nearly doubles a person’s risk for developing heart disease.

The CDC says that heart disease causes one in four deaths every year.

Genetics can be an important factor in determining whether or not a person develops heart disease, but it is not the only consideration. Lifestyle and health habits can be detrimental to one’s heart health.

Obesity, inactivity and poor diet are factors named on the CDC website that put people at a heightened risk for developing heart disease.

Physical activity strengthens the heart muscle which “improves your heart's ability to pump blood to your lungs and throughout your body,” according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

People who do not have time to work out during the day can still find ways to be active and improve their health.

Using a pedometer is a great way to start living a more active lifestyle. Pedometers count the number of steps a person takes each day and can help in determining if a daily routine calls for more exercise.

Last year, Business Insider found that Washington, D.C., and Alaska have the highest percentage of people who commute by foot on a daily basis.

The Business Insider website shows that southern states have far fewer pedestrians than other regions, with Alabama having the lowest percentage rate of walking commuters.

National Walk to Work Day encourages everyone to start a walking movement or join those in their hometowns who are already hitting the pavement.

Sources:

10,000 Steps A Day. Thewalkingsite.com. Accessed 4/2/2015
http://www.thewalkingsite.com/10000steps.html

Heart Disease Facts. cdc.gov. Accessed 4/2/2015
http://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/facts.htm

Benefits of Physical Activity. Nhlibi.hih.gov. Accessed 4/2/2015
https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/phys/benefits

Here are the states where the most people walk or bike to work. Businessinsider.com. Accessded 4/2/2015
http://www.businessinsider.com/here-are-the-states-where-the-most-people...

Reviewed April 2, 2015
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith

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Margaret Staniforth
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We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.