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Show Walking is good for body as well as heart, medics state This is one of a series of health columns about your heart, prepared by the Utah Heart Association and published pub-lished by this newspaper as a public service. Ordinarily, most people wouldn't dream of swallowing live goldfish, crowding eight-deep eight-deep into a telephone booth, breaking up a defenseless piano, pi-ano, or taking a spin in a laundromat machine. But let a craze hit, and we're off! That's what happened with the 50-mile hike the President suggested for the Marines. Poloticians pulled out their walking shoes; photographers and businessmen pushed away from heavy luncheons; secretaries secre-taries covered their typewriters. typewrit-ers. Off on the 50-mile trek! Now as any member of the Corps will tell you, our Marines Ma-rines are in excellent physical condition they spend a lot of time staying that, way too. They are in condition for the 50-mile hike. However, for a lot of Americans, the longest distance regularly walked is from the driveway to the house. For them to embark on a 50-mile hike is like expecting expect-ing the baby to run before he can crawl. Exercise is necessary to maintain good health, but it should be tailored to the individual. indi-vidual. It should also be ta ken in gradually increasing doses. Strenuous exertion for a person unaccustomed to any exercise may be harmful, the Utah Heart Association points out. Hiking is a fine form of exercise, ex-ercise, especially rewarding during the clear summer and autumn weather. If a Sunday drive out to the country is a family custom, keep it up but don't drive all the time. Park the car at a good place a state park or a place with hills and trees and flowers and nary a hotdog stand or "no trespassing" sign in sight and go exploring on foot. Stop every now and again to catch your breath and teach your youngsters (or learn along with them) a few lessons about the natural beauty of the surroundings: the plant life, clouds, moss and trees, the birds, squirrels, or other animals you may see. Whether you gather arrowheads arrow-heads or wildflowers or come home empty-handed, its a delightful de-lightful way to spend time with your family, get fresh air and provide a work-out for your muscles, including your heart muscle. ' In many big cities, members of walking clubs hike to historic his-toric sites or other points, or interest within the city limits. Usually these walking tours or carry the groceries home. To enjoy walking to the ut- most, pretend you are a Ma-1 Ma-1 rine. Breathe deep; straighten your shoulders; hold your head ; up, your stomach in. A couple i of miles of walking like this each day will help keep your . weight down, firm, your mus-: mus-: cles, ease workday tensions : and put you and your heart in ! much better shape for any i athletic vacation you may be i planning. are organized for weekends when more people are free to participate. But don't reserve walking for weekends. Make some walking part of your every day routine. Get into the habit hab-it of leaving the car behind ii you have only a short distance to go. After a few weeks you'll find you won't get sc winded when you climb stairs |
