Walking at faster pace slashes risk of heart problems, new study finds

A study has revealed that walking at a brisk pace could significantly reduce the risk of heart rhythm disorders. The research suggests that brisk walking may be an effective and safe exercise to mitigate arrhythmia, a condition where the heart beats too fast or too slow.

The study was conducted by a team from the University of Glasgow who analysed data from 420,925 individuals from the UK Biobank. These participants' walking speeds were determined through questionnaire responses.

A slow pace was categorised as less than three miles per hour, an average pace as three to four miles per hour, and a brisk pace as more than four miles per hour.

Of the participants, 221,664 reported walking at an average pace, while 171,384 claimed to walk at a brisk pace. Over a span of 13 years, approximately 36,574 individuals developed heart rhythm issues.

These conditions encompassed atrial fibrillation (AF) – characterised by irregular and rapid beating of the heart's upper chambers – as well as abnormally slow heartbeats, and ventricular arrhythmias, which is when an abnormal heart rhythm originates in the lower chambers. If left untreated, heart rhythm problems can escalate the risk of stroke, heart failure, and cardiac arrest.

Heart rhythm issues arise when there is a malfunction in the electrical system that regulates the heartbeat. These problems can also be triggered by conditions such as high blood pressure, heart attacks, certain medications, or viral infections.

Researchers discovered that walking at an average or brisk pace significantly reduced the risk of heart rhythm problems by 35% and 43% respectively, compared to those who walked at a slow pace.

The study, published in the journal Heart, revealed an even more remarkable finding - the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) was slashed by nearly half (46%) among those who walked at the fastest pace. The researchers concluded that these findings "reinforce the promotion of faster walking pace" in exercise recommendations.

Data analysis of 81,956 study participants showed that 4,117 went on to develop arrhythmias during the follow-up period. The study found that spending more time walking at an average or brisk pace correlated with a 27% lower risk of developing heart rhythm problems.

The researchers further noted: "This study is the first to explore the pathways underpinning the association between walking pace and arrhythmias, and to provide evidence that metabolic and inflammatory factors may have a role: walking faster decreased the risk of obesity and inflammation, which, in turn, reduced the risk of arrhythmia."