Going For a Walk

This post was inspired by a March 25 article in the Chicago Sun Times by Shannon Halloway, assistant professor at Rush University College of Nursing, entitled “Going for a quiet walk can help get us through coronavirus crisis”. The article discusses the COVID-19 pandemic and mounting mental health issues brought on by countless hardships raised by the pandemic. The article states that as a result of social isolation, cases of loneliness, anxiety and depression will rise. She states that a “humble daily walk” is simple, free and crosses all demographic groups regardless of fitness level. She also points out that walking provides countless benefits including maintaining weight, easing joint pain, decreasing the risk of cardiovascular disease, combatting depression, improving memory, improving immune system function and lengthening lifespans. I would add that walking is my preferred form of exercise. It is my belief that many of the health benefits attributed to walking, stem from changes in the Epigenome.