Longer walks cut heart disease risk

Longer, uninterrupted walks slash heart disease risk by up to two-thirds compared to short strolls.

Why it matters

  • Longer walks cut heart disease risk by up to two-thirds.
  • Challenges the "10,000 steps a day" myth.

By the numbers

  • Study size: 33,560 UK adults aged 40–79.
  • Only 8% walked 15+ minutes uninterrupted.
  • Risk reduction: up to two-thirds with longer walks.

The big picture

  • Quality of walking (duration) matters more than step count.
  • Simple lifestyle change with big health benefits.

What they're saying

  • Experts emphasize walk duration over step count.
  • Some users question practicality of defining short walks as 5 minutes.

Caveats

  • Study shows correlation, not causation, in less active individuals (<8,000 steps/day).

What’s next

  • Further studies could confirm findings and explore mechanisms.