People who rarely go for walks are often apathetic, worried about feeling overwhelmed and overworked. Lack of walking in the fresh air for a long time negatively affects the functioning of the immune system, which can lead to frequent colds. Svetlana Vorozhbit, chief physician of INVITRO-YUG, told socialbites.ca.
“It can also lead to poor sleep quality. With low physical activity, muscle tone decreases, meaning strength and endurance decrease. “Metabolic disorders in the body may develop gradually,” he said.
According to the doctor, obesity, diabetes etc. can be prevented through light physical activities like walking. You can significantly reduce the risk of contracting diseases. Walking has a positive effect on the condition of the heart and blood vessels, the respiratory system. It has a stimulating effect on the function of the digestive system, improves quality and life expectancy.
“If we talk about walks in the fresh air, this is a great way to get enough oxygen, activate immune defense and cognitive functions. After a walk, the mood improves, the person becomes calmer, more focused, attentive and remembers new information better. Walking also strengthens bones, muscles and joints; “Regular walks are a good prevention of spinal problems, and if you do Nordic walking, for example, not only the leg muscles but also the arm muscles are activated.”
Walking is highly preferred for people with minimal physical activity. These include office workers, especially those who sit in a cramped position in front of the computer for long periods of time, and those who work from home. In addition, people whose work requires long-term eye fatigue are recommended to walk when they need to look at a computer monitor or phone screen. The eyes of people with this type of activity are constantly tense and they focus on the screen or keyboard for long periods of time. While walking, you can look far away at the horizon and relieve excessive eye fatigue.
“Walking is recommended for the elderly as well as people with excess body weight or diabetes; Walking has a positive effect on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, helps reduce or maintain body weight. When walking, you burn slightly less than one kcal per kilo of weight for every kilometer you walk. For joint diseases – arthrosis, arthritis, osteochondrosis, walking is the most suitable type of exercise,” the doctor emphasized.
The doctor suggested that you can start with 30 minutes a day to get into the habit of regular walking. This is the necessary minimum that allows you to maintain the functioning of the immune system, get enough oxygen, switch your attention from daily activities to rest and relaxation.
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