Faster Walking Pace Significantly Reduces Cardiovascular Risk, Study Suggests
A recent study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine indicates that walking at a faster pace, even with fewer steps, can significantly reduce the risk of early death, including from cardiovascular disease. Researchers analyzed data from over 100,000 participants who wore activity trackers for seven consecutive days. The study found that individuals walking between 7,500 and 10,000 steps a day had the lowest risk of early death. However, those who walked fewer than 5,000 steps daily but at a pace exceeding 80 steps per minute showed a similar reduction in mortality risk as those who walked more steps at a slower pace. An 80 steps per minute pace is described as brisk enough to slightly elevate the heart rate without causing significant breathlessness. This research suggests that increasing walking cadence can be a time-efficient method for health improvement, particularly for middle-aged and older adults who may face barriers to achieving high step counts.
