Counting the steps to a healthier existence
Individuals wanting to ward off obesity or lower their blood pressure may do so with the help of a pedometer, it has been claimed.
US researchers from the Stanford University School of Medicine found that using the pocket-sized device can help ordinarily sluggish people become more physically active, lose weight and reduce blood pressure.
With a pedometer counting the number of steps an individual makes each day, the researchers looked at a wide range of studies and concluded that its use increased physical activity by 2,183 steps.
Of those observed by the academics, almost all pedometer users lost weight and experienced improvements in blood pressure.
Lead author Dr Dena Bravata pointed out that such reductions in blood pressure are linked to reduced risk of death by stroke or cardiovascular causes.
"Just over 2,100 steps might not sound that much, but it equates to a 27 per cent increase in physical activity," she commented.
Another study by US and UK researchers has shown that the death rate owing to heart disease is beginning to climb for young women across the Atlantic.
The Insurance Helpline specialises in obtaining cover for people with obesity, high blood pressure or heart disease
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