Far from the number of steps.. How can your walk protect you from sudden death?

Far from the number of steps..

How can your walk protect you from sudden death?

Millions of people around the world try their best to walk daily to boost their

health :

keeping in mind a common goal: reaching 10,000 steps per day.

But a research team in Britain pointed to a factor that may be more important

than the number of steps, which is walking speed.

In a recent study that :

• followed more than 420,000 adults over 13 years, researchers focused on

• the relationship between walking pace and the risk of heart disorders

• such as atrial fibrillation and other heart rhythm disorders.

Participants were divided according to their walking pace into 3 categories:

slow (less than 4.8 km/h), medium (between 4.8 and 6.4 km/h)

and fast (more than 6.4 km/h).

It was found that more than half of the participants were walking at an average

pace, while 40% reported a fast pace, and only 6% reported a slow pace.

Throughout the study period :

more than 23,000 cases of atrial fibrillation and 19,000 cases of other heart rhythm

disorders were monitored, in addition to approximately 5,700 cases of abnormally

slow heart rate.

• After taking into account other influencing factors, such as smoking

• and general health status, the researchers analyzed

• the relationship between walking speed and these disorders.

The results indicated :

a difference :

• in infection rates based on the pace of walking, which reinforces

• the importance of regular physical activity, especially brisk walking

• in reducing heart-related health risks.

Average walking speed was found to :

reduce the risk of all arrhythmias by more than a third (35%)

while brisk walking reduces the risk by 43%. The risk of developing atrial

fibrillation also decreased by 38% and 46%

respectively (for moderate-speed and fast walking).

Although :

the study was observational in nature :

and the researchers acknowledged the presence of some limitations

such as relying on self-evaluation

it is one of the largest studies that have addressed this topic, and adds important

evidence to the role that walking speed - not just the number of steps - plays in

promoting cardiovascular health.

In the same context :

the World Health Organization warned that physical inactivity causes about two

million deaths annually, and is among the most prominent causes of death

and disability globally. Reports also indicate an increase in premature deaths

related to heart disease, especially among young people, in light of

the sedentary lifestyle that prevails in modern societies.