Why walking is a step toward healthy aging

(Aging Untold) — Walking is one of the simplest tools we have for healthy aging, and the benefits add up even in short bursts. The Aging Untold hosts break down how to make every step count, why muscle loss happens faster than most people realize, and why using a walker or cane is nothing to be embarrassed about. Start small, stay consistent “Steps count by just doing it. You’ve just got to jump in and do it. You don’t have to go out and run a marathon. You just start small and just start moving,” Dr. Rhea Rogers, a board-certified physician, said. Rogers said walking reflects the health of the entire body — it draws on muscle strength, balance, heart health and oxygenation. “So how many times you see people — how far can they walk, that distance when they start gasping for breath? That’s oxygenation. That’s heart health,” Rogers said. “What about these people with chronic lung diseases like COPD and all that? They need that oxygenation. That’s one of the first signs you see in them —