Aussie men urged to walk for better heart health
During Men’s Health Week, which kicked off on Monday, the Heart Foundation is urging men to improve their health by walking more.
Did you know that men are two times more likely to have a heart attack than women? Around 36,000 men have a heart attack in Australia every year and sadly, more than 5,000 men lose their lives to heart attacks every year.
By regularly exercising, men can reduce their risk of heart disease by as much as half. And you don’t have to do it alone.
As part of their “Bring a Bloke” campaign, the Heart Foundation is asking men to join one of their walking groups. And if you have a man in your life who need to get moving, bring them along and encourage them to keep the walking up.
Jim Farely, 66, from Geeveston, Tasmania, has walked with the Geeveston Gaitors for two and a half years.
“As a single man company is most precious and the walking group has filled a void in my life and also has got me out and about to gain some fitness and meet new people,” he says.
“It is not the amount you walk but the participation with the group that matters, some are not as fit as others and some are aged and can no longer keep up with the fitter ones who take to more brisk walking.”
Dr Bill Boyd, the president of Queensland’s Australian Medical Association, knows firsthand the importance of keeping healthy as you age. He signed up to the Heart Foundation’s virtual walker program to keep track off his walking progress.
“I grew up in Scotland in the 1960s and 70s. There was a culture of heavy alcohol usage and the diet in those years contained large amounts of ‘stodge’ which included deep fried stuff, pastries and what was known as suet,” he recalls.
“Scotland had one of the highest incidences of coronary heart disease and indeed this claimed my dad suddenly at the age of 51. Our coronary arteries are critical to our survival yet are uniquely vulnerable to the deleterious effects of cigarettes, inactivity, type 2 diabetes and obesity.”
His advice is simple. “Bottom line is that statistically those who eat sensibly and exercise at least moderately experience a healthier body, improved fitness and exercise tolerance and suffer fewer premature deaths from degenerative cardiovascular disease.
“But you can talk about this stuff till you are blue in the face and the paramedics are on their way. To quote the shoemakers – Just do it.”
To find your nearest group, or become a virtual walker, to track you own progress visit http://walking.heartfoundation.org.au/ or call 1300 36 27 87.
Recruit fellow over-60s to your walking group by starting an Over60 Catch-up. Read our FAQ on hosting an Over60 Catch-up for more information. Head over to the Over60 Catch-up section to see what events are on in your area.