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Funny enough, it's not (just) about the exercise. Walking actually helps pump blood, so you're actually letting your heart rest a bit when you do it. Plus, lik

Funny enough, it's not (just) about the exercise. Walking actually helps pump blood, so you're actually letting your heart rest a bit when you do it. Plus, like sleep, it's one of those activities that were so constant in our lives that a bunch of processes came to depend on it.

agumonkey 5y ago
When I was physically frail, walking was the only PE I could bear. It was surprising to see how integrated it is. It helps pump blood very softly. I massages your gut. It's a global exercise, unlike isolated workouts. There's also a mind aspect to wandering.. your imagination walks too, in various directions. ps: to add some context, I used to be a runner, so when health crashed, my first reaction was to jog to maintain things, but it was too demanding, stationary biking was too focused on legs.. both didn't allow blood to flow everywhere nicely. Too a few hikes only to feel warm blood back into toes and fingers for instance. And even lungs opened better. Since lungs are also linked to blood flow, ensuring a holistic proper circulation probably helped that part too.
Majestic121 5y ago
> Walking actually helps pump blood, so you're actually letting your heart rest a bit when you do it. That's surprising, because walking increases heart rate significantly compared to sitting/laying. Switching from sitting to a nice walk with my elderly parents makes me go from 50-60 BPM to 90+ What kind of rest are you talking about ?
- radu_floricica 5y ago
  I'm on the phone and honestly too lazy to look for a good primary source, but a google for "walking pumps blood" finds lots of hits, most on calf muscles pumping venous blood. Also tbh 90+ walking sounds like a warning sign...
  - Jtsummers 5y ago
    90+ while walking is a reasonable heartrate if it's a high pace. For a stroll, then yes it's a sign of poor health.

agumonkey 5y ago

When I was physically frail, walking was the only PE I could bear. It was surprising to see how integrated it is. It helps pump blood very softly. I massages your gut. It's a global exercise, unlike isolated workouts. There's also a mind aspect to wandering.. your imagination walks too, in various directions. ps: to add some context, I used to be a runner, so when health crashed, my first reaction was to jog to maintain things, but it was too demanding, stationary biking was too focused on legs.. both didn't allow blood to flow everywhere nicely. Too a few hikes only to feel warm blood back into toes and fingers for instance. And even lungs opened better. Since lungs are also linked to blood flow, ensuring a holistic proper circulation probably helped that part too.

Majestic121 5y ago

> Walking actually helps pump blood, so you're actually letting your heart rest a bit when you do it. That's surprising, because walking increases heart rate significantly compared to sitting/laying. Switching from sitting to a nice walk with my elderly parents makes me go from 50-60 BPM to 90+ What kind of rest are you talking about ?

radu_floricica 5y ago
I'm on the phone and honestly too lazy to look for a good primary source, but a google for "walking pumps blood" finds lots of hits, most on calf muscles pumping venous blood. Also tbh 90+ walking sounds like a warning sign...
- Jtsummers 5y ago
  90+ while walking is a reasonable heartrate if it's a high pace. For a stroll, then yes it's a sign of poor health.