Longer, faster walks protect heart health

Adding distance to your daily walk and picking up the pace may help reduce the risk of heart problems associated with high blood pressure, a new study suggests.

Compared with a minimum step count of 2,300 steps, every additional 1,000 steps is associated with a 17 percent lower risk of heart attack, heart failure, and stroke, researchers reported in the August 6 issue of the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology.