One of the best things you can do for your health is to take a walk. Many diseases, conditions, and ailments can be prevented or even healed by participating in regular physical activity including walking.
Fortunately, even moderate-intensity aerobic activity such as walking can provide these health benefits. That’s why the Walk with a Doc (WWAD) program encourages healthy physical activity in people of all age by organizing physician-led walks with patients. The walks are an opportunity for physicians to encourage an active lifestyle and answer patients’ health-related questions in an environment less intimidating than the exam room. Mostly, it’s a way to get patients moving and the more movement you incorporate into your day, the better off your health will be.
From your head to your toes, read the 100 healthy reasons why WWAD recommends for you to start walking today:
- Lowers “bad” cholesterol (LDL)
- Increases “good” cholesterol (HDL)
- Prevents and reduces high blood pressure
- Reduces heart attacks by 86% (combined with healthy lifestyle choices)
- Reduces risk of stroke by up to 50%
- Lowers resting heart rate to make your heart work more efficiently
- Lowers cardiovascular endurance and performance
- Improves circulation
- Keeps your lungs healthy
- Strengthens breathing muscles
- Safe, even for those with asthma
- Lets you eat more with less weight gain
- Burns calories
- Causes weight loss
- Increases metabolism
- Decreases fat tissue
- Reduces BMI (body mass index)
- Prevents obesity
- Curbs metabolic syndrome
- Improves glycogen storage and allows better fat burning
- Stimulates digestion
- May reduce acid reflux severity and frequency
- Improves functioning of organs
- Beneficial for those with chronic kidney conditions
- Decreases risk of fatty liver disease
- Can act as an appetite suppressant
- Prevents or manages type 2 diabetes
- Helps insulin work better
- Helps to regulate hormones
- Improves chance of a healthy pregnancy
- Alleviates menstrual cramps
- Increases testosterone in men
- Reduces chances for breast, endometrial, and colon cancer
- Can reduce urge to smoke
- Allows one to stay independent as they get older
- Helps to avoid falls
- Reduces pain and disability
- Can add years to one’s life
- Enhances quality of life
- Increases blood flow to the brain
- Stimulates growth of nerve cells in the memory center of the brain
- May help reduce the risk of dementia
- Can stimulate you mentally
- Improves cognition
- Reduces anxiety
- Increases overall sense of wellbeing
- Improves psychological sense of wellbeing
- Opposes the effect of stress on the brain
- Helps with stress relief and to relax
- Improves mood
- Increases sense of excitement
- Keeps unnecessary worry at bay
- Improves self-esteem and self-confidence since body and mind are improved and strengthened
- Increases sense of self-control
- Healthy stress reliever
- Avoid stress eating
- Curbs junk food cravings
- Improves body image
- Improves bone density and prevents osteoporosis
- Strengths and develops muscles
- Loosens up stiff joints
- Helps maintain cartilage health in joints
- Reduces joint discomfort
- Improves balance
- Allows you to overcome illness
- Boosts immune system functioning
- Promotes clean pores and healthier skin
- Stimulates circulation to improve skin, delay wrinkles, and promote hair growth
- Helps to manage arthritis
- Improves stiffness from Rheumatoid arthritis
- Eases muscular tension
- Reduces inflammation
- Increases resistance to pain
- Can prevent migraine headaches
- Alleviates back problems
- Helps to alleviate varicose veins and vein pain
- Improves pain from fibromyalgia
- Increases creative ability
- Boosts work performance
- Improves mood at work
- Increases productivity at work
- Increases productivity in general
- Boosts energy
- Fights fatigue
- Linked to increased income
- Provides source of pleasure and fun
- Improves sexual function and satisfaction
- Can prevent erectile dysfunction
- Can replace medications for better sex and sounder sleep
- Improves sleep quality and reduces daytime sleepiness
- Keeps healthcare insurance premiums lower
- Can lessen medical bills
- Affordable form of exercise
- Better for the environment
- “Walking is a man’s best medicine” – Lower’s death rate
- Walking improves relationships
- Makes for a great date night
- Healthy way to spend time with friends
- Great for you…and your pet!
- The Surgeon General calls us to STEP IT UP!
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