Mixed
Habitual walking at a pace above 3 mph is associated with a significantly lower risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, and total cardiovascular disease in older adults (mean age 73), including those aged 75 and older.
If you are an older adult, aim to walk at a brisk pace (faster than 3 mph). This specific intensity is linked to roughly half the risk of heart disease and stroke compared to slow walking. You don't need high-intensity gym workouts; consistent, brisk walking is highly effective for cardiovascular health in later life.
Compared with a walking pace under 2 mph, those that habitually walked at a pace above 3 mph had lower risk of CHD (0.50; CI:0.38-0.67), stroke (0.47; CI:0.33-0.66) and CVD (0.50; CI:0.40-0.62).
Why this rating
Large prospective cohort (n=4207), long follow-up (10 years), repeated measures, and central adjudication of events, though observational design limits causal inference.
Source
Physical Activity and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease and Stroke in Older Adults
Luísa Soares‐Miranda et al. · Circulation · 2015
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