Walk the Walk for Better Heart Health
Walk the Walk for Better Heart Health
February is American Heart Month, and we at Goldsmith Podiatry want to acknowledge this important health concern. Heart disease is currently the leading cause of death in our country. Heart disease can take several forms including high blood pressure, heart attacks, and stroke—all of which can have devastating effects on your feet and the rest of your body. There are several ways to reduce your chances of developing heart disease, and one very important one is staying physically active. A great way to get and stay fit is walking.
Why Walk?
In addition to improving the health of your heart, walking produces several other benefits:
Clears your head and helps you think more clearly
Reduces stress
Improves sleep
Helps prevent weight gain
Improves blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar numbers
Builds bone strength
Walking Wisdom
Although walking is easy to do and doesn’t require special instructions, it’s important to follow some precautions to help get fit safely.
If walking hurts, stop. It may be a sign that something is wrong with your feet or ankles. Make an appointment at our Upper West Side Manhattan office by calling (212) 877-1002 so that our podiatrists, Dr. Howard Goldsmith or Dr. Rosanna Troia can examine your feet and find the source of the discomfort.
Wear appropriate shoes. Good walking shoes should have adequate arch support and a thick sole for shock absorption. Make sure shoes fit properly and if the foot doctor has prescribed a custom orthotic wear it inside your walking shoes.
Stay alert. Don’t text and walk or zone out to music with earbuds. Always make sure you can hear the traffic around you. Walk facing traffic when possible.
Choose bright colors and if you walk at night, reflective tape or fabrics.
Walk with a buddy—human or canine—for additional safety.
If you have questions about walking and your podiatric health, contact us today.