Greensboro's African American Community Newspaper since 1967
A&T Student Health Center Staff and students walk to promote good health. Photo by Charles Edgerton/Carolina Peacemaker
During the Get Moving celebration, events included three half-mile walks. Prior to each walk, a “CPR 4 Your Heart” demonstration was given to teach hands-only CPR (100 chest compressions per minute to the beat of “Stayin’ Alive”). Novant Health provided free heart health laboratory screenings. This information aided all participants toward their quest for a heart healthy lifestyle.
Walking briskly improves overall fitness, helping to lower your blood pressure, combat high cholesterol, and ward off Type II diabetes. Also, walking is less taxing on the joints of one’s legs and feet than running. Research has shown that every hour of regular exercise can add about two hours to an individual’s life expectancy, even if you don’t start until midlife. Plus, physical activity can relieve depression, improve your memory, maintain normal blood pressure and help prevent obesity.
“Cardiovascular diseases ravage the African American population and walking is a simple preventative measure to combat your risk. In recognition of that fact, we have begun our own regular walking program at the Student Health Center. Come join us!” offered Dr. David Wagner, director of the Student Health Center.
The Heart & Stroke Walk brings together nearly 5,000 people locally each year as they walk to help fight and prevent heart disease and stroke. These are the first and fifth leading causes of death in the United States. Walking is a useful, invigorating, and safe way to help evade these shocking statistics.
