Outdoor recreation often comprises several kinds of activity. Bird watching, for example, may involve walking, interpreting sounds and visual clues, and socializing with fellow birdwatchers; each of these has its wellness implications. Walking is a common denominator for most forms of outdoor recreation. Brisk walking for just three hours a week or half an hour each day is associated with a 30 to 40 percent lower risk of heart disease in women (AARP 2008, citing the 20-Year Nurses’ Health Study).
Walking has been shown to have many health benefits:
- managing weight;
- controlling blood pressure;
- decreasing risk of heart attack;
- boosting ―good cholesterol;
- lowering risk of stroke;
- reducing risk of breast cancer and Type 2 diabetes;
- avoiding need for gallstone surgery;
- protecting against hip fracture;
- preventing depression, colon cancer, constipation, osteoporosis, and impotence;
- lengthening lifespan;
- lowering stress levels;
- relieving arthritis and back pain;
- strengthening muscles, bones, and joints;
- improving sleep; and
- elevating overall mood and sense of well-being.
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