Walking Could Save Thousands of Lives, Charities Say

Sharon Moore October 08, 2013

Walking is a free, low-impact activity that can save tens of thousands of lives in the UK, according to charities.

The report, entitled “Walking Works”, was conducted by charities Ramblers and Macmillan Cancer Support. According to them, walking is a free activity that can transform people’s health. The report suggests that if everyone in England would follow the recommended 150 minutes of moderate physical exercise, 37,000 lives will be saved each year, 6,700 cases of breast cancer will be prevented, 4,700 people will be saved from getting colorectal cancer, and there will be nearly 300,000 fewer cases of type 2 diabetes.

According to Benedict Southworth, the chief executive of Ramblers, the country is facing ‘a serious crisis of inactivity’, but there’s a simple solution. "We need to see greater investment in initiatives which support and promote walking as the most accessible and affordable way for people to get active."

Ciarán Devane, chief executive of Macmillan Cancer Support said being active can help manage some of the debilitating effects of cancer treatments, and reduce the chance of some cancers returning. "Inactivity is a nationwide epidemic that must be tackled now before it is too late."

For decades, scientists have known that physically activity is an important aspect of good health. Last week, a study published in the British Medical Journal suggests that exercise can be as good as medicines for some health conditions such as heart disease. Another recent study by American researchers revealed that walking may reduce the risk of breast cancer.

Getting started with walking as an exercise

Walking is a basic movement we do every day, but we need more of it to reap its health benefits. It is recommended that people take 10,000 steps each day for exercise. Sounds too much? Here are some tips to make walking an effective physical workout for you.

Find a good place to walk. A good choice would be the neighbourhood, around your block or somewhere where there’s a flat terrain, smooth surface, straight path, minimal traffic, and no pollution.

Make yourself feel comfortable. Wear appropriate shoes as walking puts a little bit of pressure on the feet which may cause pain. You can also listen to your favourite tracks as you stroll. Walking is a great opportunity to reflect and plan for the future. But you want to get rid of negative thoughts. Only stick to the positive ones.

Set reasonable expectations for your progress. If you’re new to exercising or you have been sedentary most of your life, aim for shorter distances and walk at a slower phase. Then gradually increase your walking activity. Also, determine how much time you want to spend on walking.

Stay hydrated. Before you start walking, drink plenty of water. Also carry a bottle of water as you walk especially if you’re aiming for longer distances.

Source of this article:

Walking more ’would save thousands’ of lives in the UK