A recent study emphasizes the significance of both daily step count and walking pace for health and longevity. Conducted by researchers from the Netherlands, Spain, and the United States, the study, analyzed data from 12 studies involving over 111,000 participants, revealing key insights into cardiovascular health.
The findings include:
- 2,500 daily steps: A modest increase from the common goal of 2,000 steps results in an 8% reduction in the risk of death.
- 2,700 daily steps: This marks a turning point for cardiovascular health, with an 11% reduction in the risk of fatal and nonfatal events such as heart attacks and strokes.
- 7,000 daily steps: Optimal cardiovascular health is associated with this step count, showing an impressive 51% reduction in the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
- 9,000 daily steps: Aim for this count for an extended lifespan, with a remarkable 60% reduction in the risk of death from any cause.
The study also underscores the benefits of gradual increases in daily steps, with each additional 1,000 steps offering a further reduction in the risk of death, albeit not in predictable intervals.