North Shore Shape Up: Lower blood pressure with a short walk

You already know exercise is good for you. But a new study looked at the effect a simple 30-minute morning walk could have on the blood pressure of otherwise mostly sedentary overweight adults. Cleveland Clinic Wellness reports:

In a controlled setting, researchers assessed the effects of adding a 30-minute morning walk to an otherwise sedentary day (sound familiar?) among a group of overweight adults. Blood pressure dropped among both men and women on the days when they walked—about the same degree as with blood pressure medication. What’s more, when women who had walked in the morning also broke up their daytime sitting with short, frequent breaks, they had an additional drop in blood pressure. (Men didn’t experience this bonus; sorry, guys.)

Other forms of exercise certainly deliver similar benefits. But walking is simple, affordable, and easy to do just about everywhere for most adults. You’ll probably feel refreshed afterward too!

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