Walking 4000 steps a day may reduce risk of death

Taking short walks every day may be a much more rewarding exercise than science imagined. According to a new study published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, Walking just 4,000 steps a day can help prevent health problems and reduce the risk of death.

According to studies, the risk of death begins to decrease significantly with walking between 500 and 1000 steps; at 500 steps per day the risk is reduced by up to 7%; Already taking 1000 steps a day can reduce the risk of death by up to 15%. The researchers point out that the health benefits increase as people walk more, for example, 20,000 steps will provide a greater reduction in the risk of death.

Scientists have used data from approximately 227 thousand people, compiled from 17 other studies conducted worldwide. The mean age of study participants was 64 at the time of collection, and 49% were women.

“There is good evidence that inactivity and little daily walking increase the risk of cardiovascular (CV) disease and general health problems. The optimal step count and their role in health are still unclear. Therefore, in this meta-analysis, the scientists, at the study’s entry, The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between all-cause and cardiovascular-related death.

Walking reduces risk of death

As explained by one of the study’s authors and professor of cardiology Maciej Banach, Reducing the risk of death by walking applies to men and women, regardless of age or region of residence. He says a good average is to walk an average of 4,000 steps a day, because walking also significantly reduces the risk of death from cardiovascular disease.

Research indicates that a sedentary lifestyle is a worldwide problem and is responsible for a greater risk of death from the development of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes. That’s why scientists encourage even minimal levels of physical activity because it can provide real health benefits.

In any case, it is important to emphasize the work. It does not suggest a direct association between walking and a reduced risk of death, but merely suggests an association between activity and a lower risk of death.

“We still need good studies to explore whether these benefits exist for types of intense effort, such as marathon running and iron man challenges, and in different populations of different ages and with different associated health problems. However, it seems that as with pharmacological treatments, each “We have to think about personalizing lifestyle changes,” he said.

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