Walkers should aim for 100 steps a minute

Researcher Dr. Simon J. Marshall of San Diego State University in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine said,“Walkers should aim for 100 steps per minute,because health benefits can be achieved with bouts of exercise lasting at least 10 minutes. A useful starting point is to try and accumulate 1,000 steps in 10 minutes,before building up to 3,000 steps in 30 minutes.”
The findings are based on exercise tests given to 97 healthy adults with an average age of 32. In general,men needed to walk at a pace of 92 to 102 steps per minute to achieve a moderately intense workout for their hearts. The range for women was between 91 and 115 steps per minute. —Reuters

A big waist is an extra burden on the lungs
Researchers who reviewed the health of 1,20,000 people in France found that those who were obese around the abdomen had the worst lung function.
The researchers,writing in The American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine,defined abdominal obesity as a waist circumference of 35 inches or greater for women and 40 inches or greater for men. The effect on the lungs was found even after body mass index—a measure of overall fitness — was taken into account.
— NYT

What’s in a cough? 20,000 viruses
The next time you cough or sneeze,there is good reason to cover your mouth. As many as 20,000 viruses are expelled in an average cough,which may be sufficient to infect many people — particularly those who are not vaccinated. Julian Tang,a consultant at Singapore’s National University Hospital’s Division of Microbiology,said 3,000 tiny droplets are produced in a standard cough. —Reuters

Get moving to feel younger
Fitness,strength and flexibility do not inevitably fade away with age,and are more often a matter of lifestyle choices,according to a new report.
Often,the discomforts of middle age,like lower back pain or stiff joints,are blamed on aging alone. However,a well-rounded exercise routine that includes aerobic activity,strength training and stretching can help people offset the effects of aging,according to a report in the Mayo Clinic Health Letter. Studies show that regular exercise can lower the risks of chronic ills like diabetes and heart disease,boost immune function,alleviate fatigue and cut the risk of disability in older adults. —Reuters