Lack of exercise may be as dangerous for the heart as smoking a packet of cigarettes, the World Heart Federation said recently. Inactivity also increases the risk of hypertension by one third and Type II diabetes by half, writes Iva Pocock
Maureen Movihill of the Irish Heart Foundation says that there is international consensus on the minimum level of activity required for good health: "At least 30 minutes per day of moderate activity". She stresses that it doesn't have to be all at once but "can be accumulated during the day". The key is "building activity into your day".
So how can you manage it?
Better than nothing:
Choose to go and speak to someone rather than using the phone or the e-mail. Take the stairs rather than the lift. Go for a short walk during your lunch break. Feel good about doing some housework.
One step better:
Get off the bus or train a few stops earlier or
park your car just a little further from work so you can walk the rest of the way. Decide you won't sit down for your favorite TV programme until you've gone for a 15-minute walk (only 7.5 minutes each way).
Making an effort:
Schedule a 30-minute walk into your daily
routine and use it as an opportunity to meet up with some friends. Make it longer at the weekends.
Feeling fit:
In addition to your daily activities, go for a weekly swim or cycle and start setting realistic exercise goals.
Getting sporty:
Remember there's more to sport than watching it on TV. Join your local team - soccer, tennis, GAA, badminton - or take up something more exotic. How about kite flying? Even bog snorkelling qualifies as a sport nowadays.