Older people who walk slowly are about three times more likely to die from heart disease than those who walk faster, a research has found.
Walking speed has already been linked to other issues such as falls, disability and increased number of admissions to hospital. Now experts say that walking slowly is ’strongly associated’ with an increased risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, including heart disease and stroke.
A total of 3,208 men and women aged 65 to 85 took part in a study, where they were followed for an average of five years. Participants in the lowest third of walking speed had a 44 per cent increased risk of death compared with those in the upper thirds. There was evidence of a link between low walking speed and increased thickness of arteries, which is associated with cardiovascular disease. Walking quickly has also been shown to increase levels of “good” cholesterol in the blood, which can cut the risk of heart disease.
Experts said the results showed the need to keep fit and healthy as people age.
[Source]
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26 November 2009
