Step in the right direction for your health

5th May 2017

A brisk walk of just over 20 minutes a day could help you live up to five years longer and keep you happier and healthier.

Research has shown that doing 150 minutes of moderate activity a week lowers stress levels and helps reduce your blood pressure and your risk of life threatening illnesses.

It’s estimated that a lack of exercise could be responsible for around 440 deaths a year in Stockport with recent research revealing that physical inactivity is a cause of twice as many deaths as obesity.

Currently less than one in five adults in the borough does enough exercise but in National Walking Month (May) health experts are urging couch potatoes to get active.

Stockport CCG’s Dr Vicci Owen-Smith said “It’s a very simple message – just a small amount of physical activity each day will give everyone substantial health benefits.

Inactivity is an epidemic that must be tackled now before it is too late.

“There are so many health benefits to simply just walking more. It lowers your stress levels, helps you sleep better and reducing your risk of serious health problems like cancers, heart problems and dementia.

“So take advantage of the lighter evenings and get out there and walk – you’ll feel the benefits very quickly.”

Any type of exercise will do as long as it makes you feel warm or a bit out of breath, but walking is underrated as it is easy and doesn’t cost a penny.

Try to:

• Use the stairs instead of the lift or escalator
• Get off the bus a stop early – it may not be easy to walk all of your journey
• Walk around d the block for 10 minutes when you get home from work
• Put on some music and dance for a few tracks
• Put a bit of extra effort in when you do the housework

For tips on ways to get active and keep healthy visit www.healthystockport.co.uk

Don’t let inactivity be the death of you!