Good for your heart

 

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) is delighted to give its backing to the activewoods campaign which aims to get people to be more active in the natural surroundings of the UK’s woodlands.

Physical inactivity contributes to more than a third of all UK deaths from coronary heart disease. Currently, only around one in three men and one in four women do the recommended minimum of 30 minutes moderate activity, five times a week.

Children are not much better, with over a third not participating in the recommended hour of moderate intensity activity daily.

By doing regular physical activity you can protect your health in many ways, including significantly reducing your risk of developing heart disease and diabetes. Physical activity is also a great stress reliever which can help you maintain a healthy weight and, most importantly, be fun.

If you are unfit then getting started can be a daunting prospect, but you can start off gently and build your fitness levels up gradually so that you’ll be fighting fit in good time. Plus, what better incentive could there be than taking advantage of the many activities provided by the backdrop of the UK’s woodlands?

The BHF recommends that anyone suffering from a heart condition consults their GP before taking up any form of strenuous exercise.