Walk this way. How fast is fast enough?

This Week’s Top Stories from Harvard Health

Walk this way Walking can be a wonderful way to get exercise. But do you ever wonder if you're moving briskly enough to benefit your heart? There's a quite a difference between a leisurely neighborhood stroll and a purposeful gait when you're late for the bus. Now, new research suggests that a pace of about 100 steps per minute qualifies as brisk walking for many people.

Get your copy of Walking for Health The simple activity of walking has so many powerful health benefits. Done correctly, it can be the key to losing weight, lowering blood pressure and cholesterol, and boosting your memory, as well as reducing your risk for heart disease, diabetes, cancer and more. Walking for Health, created by the experts at Harvard Medical School, takes you step-by-step from why walking may be the most perfect exercise, to how to get started on a walking program, to specific walking workouts. It even has a special section on walking for weight loss.

Pay less for heart drugs without using insurance? Do you take generic drugs to lower your blood pressure or cholesterol? You may save money by paying out of pocket at Walmart instead of a paying a Medicare prescription copay, according to an analysis in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Walmart (and a number of other large chain stores) offer generic drug discount plans; they sell 30-day supplies of popular generic drugs for $4.

Additional News from Harvard Health Publishing Do urgent care clinics overprescribe antibiotics? New nasal spray may stop rapid heart rhythm HPV test may be better than traditional cervical cancer screening method

Walking for Health Featured content: • Walking: An ideal form of exercise • Should you check with your doctor first? • First steps: Starting a walking program • Walking workouts and more • Walking through the seasons •  ... and more! Click here to read more »