The Newtown Health District is highlighting all of its partners as they spring into the season by encouraging residents and town workers to get outdoors and get moving.

The Newtown VNA heard from Director of Health Donna Culbert at its recent monthly meeting about the importance of building on the Heart Health sentiment started in February. Members learned on April 7 about the importance of knowing their numbers (weight, waist measurement, body mass index, cholesterol, blood sugar, triglycerides) as well as the importance of knowing the signs of heart attack and stroke, and the life-saving value of CPR and automatic external defibrillators.

“Then we moved onto one of our favorite subjects, food,” Ms Culbert said, “and good nutrition, which was our theme for the month of March.

“Now in April we are building on American Heart Association’s National Start Walking Day, and here in Newtown, we are making April Newtown’s Start Walking Month,” the health official said.

By visiting heart.org for the American Heart Association, residents can see tips to make their walking experience most pleasant and productive, including advice on stretching, shoes, preventing injury, what to wear, different times of day to walk, and the health benefits of stepping out.

“Walking is the most accessible, least expensive way to incorporate physical activity into your life,” Ms Culbert said. “There are countless ways you can get active, but walking has the lowest dropout rate of them all. It’s the simplest positive change you can make to improve your heart health.”

Research has shown that walking at least 30 minutes a day can help:

*Reduce risk of coronary heart disease and stroke;

*Improve blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and blood lipid profile;

*Maintain body weight and lower the risk of obesity;

*Enhance mental well-being;

*Reduce the risk of osteoporosis;

*Reduce the risk of breast and colon cancer; and

*Reduce the risk of non-insulin-dependent (type 2) diabetes.

The Newtown Health District, Newtown VNA and their partners will be highlighting other community partners walking clubs and opportunities to get out and start walking in April.

For additional information, contact Newtown Health District at 203-270-4291 or health.district@newtown-ct.gov.