Walking is great for your heart and lungs. (Shutterstock)
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Neurosurgeon highlights the five benefits of walking regularly, including heart and lung health, lowering disease risks, and more.
Walking is one of the most underrated exercises that stores in the world of health benefits. But what exactly are they? In a video shared on June 2, Dr Brian Hoeflinger, MD (neurosurgeon), and Dr Cindy Hoeflinger, MD, PhD (forensic pathologist), talked about 5 major health benefits of walking regularly. The neurosurgeon posted the video and wrote, “Benefits of walking from the Drs Hoeflinger.” Let's find out what these benefits are:
According to the neurosurgeon and forensic pathologist, here are some major benefits of walking:
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1. Walking is great for your heart and lungs.
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1. Walking is great for your heart and lungs.
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2. It reduces your risk of heart disease, lowers your blood pressure, and reduces your risk of stroke.
3. Not only does walking generally make you feel well, but it also releases endorphins, which are definite mood enhancers.
4. Walking is good for your circulation. It increases the blood flow to your body, particularly your brain, which can help prevent degenerative conditions like Alzheimer's disease.
5. Walking is also good for your joints, as I can attest to. It helps strengthen the muscles around your joints, making movement easier and enhancing a little bit of bone growth, which makes your bones stronger. In general, you just feel better.
Why walking 10,000 steps is better?
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While walking is great, completing 10,000 steps every day is even better. Many studies have shown that completing this target has many mental and physical benefits, including weight management, heart health, and mental wellbeing. According to a 2019 JAMA Internal Medicine study, even walking fewer steps can benefit your health. The researchers found that women who averaged 4,400 daily steps had a 41 percent reduction in mortality. Additionally, among older women, as few as approximately 4400 steps/d was significantly related to lower mortality rates
Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
Krishna Priya Pallavi is a journalist with over 9 years of experience, covering health, fashion, pop culture, travel, wellness, entertainment, festivals, mental health, art, decor, fitness, and sex and relationships. She is an alumna of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Dhenkanal, and holds an undergraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi. Her strong academic foundation informs her analytical and detail-oriented approach to storytelling, helping her uncover stories where none seem to exist. Before joining Hindustan Times, Pallavi worked with some of India’s leading media organisations. She spent close to three years at India Today, where she honed her newsroom skills and developed a sharp editorial sensibility. She also worked for over a year and a half at Vagabomb, ScoopWhoop’s feminist digital platform, where she explored stories through a gender-sensitive, socially aware lens. Pallavi has a deep interest in global fashion trends and international fashion seasons, and enjoys interviewing celebrities and tracking pop culture movements—interests that frequently translate into engaging, reader-friendly stories. Alongside lifestyle and entertainment, she has a keen eye for impactful health and wellness journalism, regularly interacting with doctors, designers, and digital content creators to bring nuance and credibility to her work. Born and raised in Haryana, Pallavi remains deeply connected to her ancestral roots in Odisha. Her ability to spot fresh angles brings curiosity and depth to stories she pursues. When not chasing deadlines, she enjoys spending time with her dog, planning her next vacation, reading, running new trails, and discovering new destinations.
