Mayor Martin Chavez and The American Heart Association are calling on Albuquerque residents to walk for 30 minutes. Residents can put on their sneakers and support the fight against heart disease by participating in National Start! Walking Day on Wednesday, April 8. This is the day that adults nationwide can make the pledge to Start! walking and to become active and heart healthy, especially in the workplace.As part of his Fit City initiative to improve the health and enjoyment of life of Albuquerque residents, Mayor Martin Chavez will discuss the American Heart Association’s National Start! Walking Day, the Albuquerque Prescription Trails program, and the Sunport’s adoption of the Start! walking program at a press conference at the Albuquerque Sunport on April 7th at 10:30am. Sunport will be the 3rd airport in the nation to adapt START as their walking program not only for their employees, but also their passengers!
The National Start! Walking Day encourages people to start taking a more active role in their health. Walking has the lowest dropout rate of any physical activity. It’s the simplest positive change people can make to effectively improve their heart health.
The Albuquerque Prescription Trails program encourages people to get up and get moving and provides prescriptions for walking and wheelchair rolling and a walking guide that suggests routes in our community.
The Start! Walking program Is more than a program. It's a movement. Heart disease is this country's No.1 killer. But by exercising for as little as 30 minutes each day people can reduce their risk. The Start! Movement is about walking more, eating better and living a longer, healthier life. The program provides free online tools and trackers to monitor success. The Sunport has jumped on board to get their employees walking and taking a more active role in their health. The Sunport will also implement the program for passengers and will encourage them to “walk before they fly”.
Research has shown that the benefits of walking and moderate physical activity for at least 30 minutes a day can help you:
Reduce the risk of coronary heart disease
Improve blood pressure and blood sugar levels
Improve blood lipid profile
Maintain body weight and lower the risk of obesity
Enhance mental well being
Reduce the risk of osteoporosis
Reduce the risk of breast and colon cancer
Reduce the risk of non insulin dependent (type 2) diabetes
The American Heart Association makes hosting a National Start! Walking Day event easy. Tips, tools, and promotional materials are provided for free. To download information about Start! or the National Start! Walking Day visit http://mystartonline.org.
