Staying Healthy...

Steps toward a longer life

Walk more. Eat well.

These simple steps are your ticket to living a longer, healthier life, according to "Start!" - a new, national campaign launched by the American Heart Association. The Start! mission is to call on all Americans and their employers to create a culture of physical activity and health, to extend lives and physical well-being through walking. The AHA says that brisk walking for as little as 30 minutes a day has proven heart health benefits.

You're invited to go online to www.americanheart.org/start and sign up for the Start! program. You'll get free access to an online fitness tracker called MyStart! Online, along with monthly tips and expert advice on fitness and nutrition. The AHA contends the rise in sedentary lifestyles is hurting us and our bosses.

For a little more incentive, here are a few benefits of physical activity cited by the AHA:

• Adults can gain two hours of life expectancy for each hour of regular exercise.
• Brisk walking for 30 minutes a day can reduce the risk of stroke, bad cholesterol (LDL) levels and high blood pressure.
• Physically active individuals save an estimated $500 per year in health-care costs.