Mayors from throughout the U.S. recently collaborated with the National Forum for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention to encourage citizens to make lifestyle changes to fight against the number-one killer in the U.S. — heart disease.
Five different mayors are holding “Move with the Mayor Challenge” events. This month-long series includes walks that are designed to increase awareness of heart disease as well as its preventions. Citizens are encouraged to walk with neighbors each week from Sept. 1 to Sept. 29, which is World Heart Day.
Cities involved in the walk include Green Bay, Wisconsin; Columbia, South Carolina; West Chicago, Illinois; and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
"Cardiovascular disease kills more Americans than all types of cancer combined," John Clymer, executive director of the National Forum for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, said. "That needs to change, and that's what the Move with the Mayor Challenge is all about — preventing heart disease and saving lives."
Walking is an easy, effective way to decrease people’s chances of developing heart disease as well as its risk factors: high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. Walking just 30 minutes each day can make a big difference in decreasing heart disease and stroke risks.
"Getting on the road to a healthier heart doesn't have to take a lot of time: it can be as quick as a 30-minute walk," Clymer said. "Just take your first steps now and you'll be on your way to a healthier, happier life."
