A recent study analyzing data from nearly half a million individuals in the UK has revealed that walking at a brisk pace could significantly reduce the risk of heart rhythm problems. The research, led by academics from the University of Glasgow, found that brisk walking might serve as a safe and effective form of exercise to lower the likelihood of arrhythmia, a condition characterized by abnormal heartbeats.
The study relied on information obtained from 420,925 participants from the UK Biobank, which included details about their walking speed provided through questionnaire responses. Participants were categorized based on their walking pace, with a slow pace defined as less than three miles an hour, an average pace falling between three to four miles an hour, and a brisk pace exceeding four miles an hour.
Of the total participants, 221,664 reported an average walking pace, while 171,384 reported a brisk walking pace. Over a 13-year period, 36,574 individuals developed heart rhythm problems, such as atrial fibrillation, an abnormally slow heartbeat, and ventricular arrhythmias. Left untreated, these conditions can escalate the risk of stroke, heart failure, and cardiac arrest.
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Upon adjusting for demographic and lifestyle factors, the researchers noted a 35% and 43% reduction in the risk of heart rhythm problems in individuals with an average and brisk walking pace, respectively, compared to those walking at a slow pace. Moreover, the risk of atrial fibrillation was found to drop by almost half (46%) among those who walked at the fastest pace.
The study also revealed that among the 81,956 participants with available data on the duration of walking, 4,117 went on to develop arrhythmias during the follow-up period. It was observed that spending more time walking at an average or brisk pace was associated with a 27% lower risk of developing heart rhythm problems.
The researchers emphasized the role of metabolic and inflammatory factors in this association, suggesting that walking at a faster pace reduced the risk of obesity and inflammation, subsequently lowering the likelihood of arrhythmias. The study, published in the journal Heart, supports the inclusion of faster walking pace in exercise recommendations.