Increasing the amount of walking may help prevent cardiovascular disease

Abstract

Copyright © Polskie Towarzystwo Kardiologiczne INTRODUCTION Recent research has demonstrated the role of physical activi­ ty in the prevention and treatment of non­communicable diseases including cardiovascular disease, metabolic dise­ ases and cancer. The UN has agreed that the prevention of non-communicable disease is greatly beneficial to the overall economy. Of the 57 million people who died in 2008, the main causes of 36 million of the deaths were non­commu­ nicable diseases. Since these diseases tend to affect people in the prime of their working lives, the World Economic Forum predicts that their total cost will reach $47 trillion by 2030 [1]. Recent studies show the relationship between physi­ cal activity and reduced total mortality and mortality due to cardiovascular disease [2–6]. A minimum of 30 minutes of at least moderate-intensity activities for three to five, and even seven, times per week is highly recommended (but not less than 150 minutes per week) [7]. In this context, we feel that “Kardiologia Polska” does not stress enough the role of physical activity in preventing cardiovascular disease, currently the main cause of deaths in Poland, especially given that despite the growing public awareness of the beneficial effects of exercise, only a few people remain physically active. It is estimated that about 60% of the global population does not do the minimum amount of physical activity; one quarter of adult Americans do not engage in any physical activity during their leisure time [8, 9]. Therefore, in addition to physical activity performed during leisure time, the most important opportunities to gain physi­ cal activity are in the workplace, during the commute to the workplace, and in activities at home.