April 7th is National Walking Day and the American Heart Association encourages central coast residents and workers to take a walk.

So let’s all get up and get out (outside to be more specific). Now more than ever, fresh air and movement are incredibly helpful for our bodies. Just a 30 minute, brisk walk will get your blood flowing – and it reduces your risk for heart disease or stroke.

If you need to work up to 30 minutes, do what you can – Just getting your cardio working a little bit, exercises the heart, the legs, and even your mind! Consider walking somewhere different than your neighborhood – the central coast has so many wonderful places for us to walk and hike with incredible nature for us to take in. 

Here are some eye-opening facts from the American Heart Association to inspire you to get up and get out:

• • Over 68 percent of American adults (more than 154 million) are overweight or obese — and this number continues to grow.
  • Sedentary jobs have increased 83 percent since 1950.
  • Lost productivity due to chronic health problems costs corporate America about $183 billion each year.
  • More than one in three American adults have some form of cardiovascular disease. By 2030, this number is expected to reach almost 45 percent.

For more information, check out the American Heart Association’s Walking information page.