FLORENCE, SC – Wednesday, April 6, countless numbers of Pee Dee residents will lace up their sneakers and walk to commemorate the annual American Heart Association’s National Walking Day.
In celebration of National Walking Day, McLeod Health is hosting a wellness event for their cardiac patients. Patients will be taking walks at 8:30 am, 9:00 am and 2:00 pm.
And this year, there’s a fun way for all individuals to participate: everyone who walks on April 6 through April 30 can “donate” their minutes to the AHA by posting their minutes on social media at #PeeDeeLaceUp. All minutes posted there will count toward the Pee Dee total goal of 25,000 minutes of physical activity. For every 30 minutes of physical activity individuals complete and share on social media they’ll be entered to win a prize. Updates and highlights will be posted all month at #PeeDeeLaceUp.
Studies have suggested that moderate physical activity has many proven benefits for an individual’s overall health, such as lowering blood pressure, increasing HDL or “good” cholesterol and controlling weight. All these changes help to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke, the nation’s No. 1 and No. 5 killers.
Broken down into weekly themes, the American Heart Association will kick-off the month-long campaign on National Walking Day to encourage people to adopt a healthy lifestyle by increasing their physical activity routines. Week one focuses on walking and the basic tools you need to get started. Because it’s easy, free and low-risk, walking is the simplest form of exercise you can do and the gateway exercise to other, more vigorous, activities. Week two and three focus on recreational sports and outdoor family activities, respectively, and week four centers around stress reduction and mindful movement, such as Yoga, Pilates and Tai Chi.
The American Heart Association recommends that adults participate in at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity physical activity or a combination of both each week. Be part of the movement and register for your free toolkit at www.heart.org/nationalwalkingday. For more information about walking and living a healthy lifestyle, visit: www.heart.org/physicalactivity. More information about the Waccamaw Lace Up and Go Challenge can be found at: facebook.com/AHAPeeDee.-This information is from a Press Release.
