LUTHERAN HEALTH NETWORK SUPPORTS NATIONAL WALKING DAY
3/29/2016
March 30, 2016 (Fort Wayne, Indiana) - Lutheran Health Network is encouraging local residents and all area businesses to take steps toward a healthier lifestyle by supporting National Walking Day on Wednesday, April 6, 2016. Lutheran Health is the Northeast Indiana Life is Why sponsor.
Life is Why is the anthem of the American Heart Association and the reason the organization is committed to the mission of building healthier lives free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke. For Lutheran Health Network, a healthier region is why it remains committed to continuing the fight against these deadly diseases.
National Walking Day is the American Heart Association's nationwide call to action for Americans to get more physically active. Lutheran Health Network is supporting National Walking Day by hosting a walking event for employees at St. Joseph Hospital and encouraging the entire community to join them as they lace up their sneakers and get moving toward a healthier heart.
The walking day event will begin at noon on the plaza on the St. Joseph Hospital campus in downtown Fort Wayne. The plaza is located near Van Buren Street between the hospital and the plaza office building. All area organizations are encouraged to host their own walking activities April 6 between noon and 12:30 p.m.
"According to the American Heart Association, walking is the single most effective form of exercise with one of the lowest dropout rates. National Walking Day is the perfect time to start incorporating a brisk walk into your daily routine to achieve better heart health," said Kenneth Jones, CEO, St. Joseph Hospital. "We are proud to walk side-by-side with the American Heart Association to encourage our employees and community members to improve their cardiovascular health."
While physical activity is critical to being healthy, less than 50 percent of adults get enough daily exercise. Adults need at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week to see the health benefits of physical activity such as lower blood pressure, improved bone health, weight maintenance after weight loss, better sleep, and more energy.
The workplace can play a key role in health and wellness. Americans work 164 more hours a year than two decades ago, and sedentary jobs have increased 83 percent since 1950.
"These days, we're spending more time at work and sitting in front of a screen than ever before and we're becoming less active, which can increase our risk of heart disease, stroke and other serious conditions," said Teresa Royer, director, Northeast Indiana Heart Walk. "We're glad that Lutheran Health Network is helping set the pace for the region when it comes to adopting heart-healthy habits."
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