"Protecting Heart Health by Walking"…KCDC "Walking is a Physical Activity Anyone Can Do"

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) announced on the 8th that Ji Young-mi, Commissioner of the KDCA, will attend the 'Heart Day Walking Event' held on the 9th at Ttukseom Hangang Park in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, to encourage physical activity for the prevention and management of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.

[Photo by Korean Society of Cardiology]

Hosted and organized by the Korean Society of Cardiology, the Heart Day Walking Event was prepared to commemorate the '2023 Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Disease Prevention and Management Week (September 1?7)' and 'World Heart Day (September 29).' The event aims to raise awareness about cardiovascular disease, the second leading cause of death in Korea, and to highlight the importance of walking, one of the most effective preventive measures against cardiovascular disease.

Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases accounted for 19.6% (62,370 people) of the 317,680 deaths in 2021, making them a major cause of death; however, prevention and management are possible through lifestyle improvements such as engaging in physical activity.

In particular, moderate physical activity lowers blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels, and reduces body weight, thereby decreasing the risk of death from cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. It is known that performing aerobic exercise for at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week, along with appropriate strength training, can reduce the risk of these diseases.

However, according to the 2021 National Statistics, the 'walking practice rate'?the proportion of people who walked for at least 10 minutes per session, totaling 30 minutes or more per day, at least five days a week?was only 40.1%. Even among those in their 60s, who have the highest practice rate, it was only 45.2%.

Commissioner Ji Young-mi of the KDCA stated, “Reducing sedentary time and exercising for more than 30 minutes daily greatly helps prevent cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Walking is a physical activity that anyone can do, including those who are not accustomed to exercise or have existing health conditions. I urge everyone to consistently practice walking, using this event as an opportunity.”

[Photo by Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency]

This walking event will begin with warm-up exercises led by fitness experts and proceed along a 3 km round-trip course starting from the waterside stage at 11 a.m., turning back at Nakcheonjeong Entrance. A stamp challenge will also be held during the walk, and participants who complete the course and collect all event stamps will receive a souvenir. Anyone can participate free of charge by registering on-site on the day of the event without prior registration.

Various experience booths will be operated during the event, including participation from the Seoul Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Disease Prevention and Management Project Support Group, the Metabolic Syndrome Management Project Support Group, and public health centers from 25 districts in Seoul. Seoul City will open a ‘Red Circle’ promotional booth symbolizing healthy blood vessels, offering free blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol tests. The health center booths will provide body composition analysis using InBody and abdominal obesity measurement tests. Additionally, diverse activities such as proper exercise education for cardiovascular disease prevention and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training booths for emergency response will be available.

Park Seung-woo, Director of the Korean Society of Cardiology, emphasized, “Adults in Korea spend an average of about nine hours a day sitting, and prolonged sedentary behavior increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular disease is the second leading cause of death in Korea after cancer, and if left untreated, it can lead to acute severe conditions that are life-threatening.” He added, “Fortunately, walking for 30 minutes two to three times a week can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. I hope this walking event provides a great opportunity for people to directly experience the easy and effective benefits of walking in daily life and to once again recognize the importance of heart health.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.