What are the benefits of walking on the heart? The answers from François Carré!

An undisputed reference in the field of health
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As François Carré, who was awarded the Jean Bernard Prize in 2022, WeWard strives to promote an active lifestyle to prevent certain diseases associated with sedentary behavior. François Carré has described this lifestyle as "as dangerous as smoking."

For WeWard, François Carré has returned in detail, and exclusively for our blog, on the benefits of walking on our heart.

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"Anything that gets people moving, I support! The problem with our current society is that people move so little that more and more chronic diseases are developing. Methods for gamifying physical activity are excellent ways to help us prevent these diseases, and all the other problems that this can cause."

- François Carré

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How does regular walking have a positive effect on cardiovascular health?
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"When you walk, blood returns to the heart more easily. The leg muscles squeeze the veins to push the blood back up. Thus, the heart fills more, as it injects more blood, and allows the heart to beat faster. The other important element is in the blood vessels of the cardiovascular system. When blood circulates faster in your vessels, it causes dilation. The red blood cells rub against the vessel walls and open up more due to the release of molecules allowed by the phenomenon. When I go for a walk, and thus, allow my vessels to open up more:
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💪 My muscles will consume more glucose, therefore more sugars.

😌 The lipids from cholesterol will be used, thus allowing for less cholesterol deposit in the vessel walls.

🩸 Blood pressure is lower.
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Overall, walking has a direct effect on the heart and vessels. And an indirect effect, by reducing the risk factors for myocardial infarction. I emphasize another important aspect: regularity. Everything I've just mentioned only works for 24 to 36 hours. When I don't walk regularly, I lose all the benefits! "

How does our heart function when we walk regularly?
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"When we walk, we engage in muscular contractions. These muscle contractions require a greater blood supply to the solicited muscles. The heart, therefore, increases the flow of blood passing through the body. In reality, there are two solutions to increase blood flow. Either that, or to eject more blood. The heart does both!"

How do you recommend the practice of walking to your patients?
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"Let's start with an established fact: All physical activities are good for health! But walking is the most accessible, which is why I recommend it to all my patients. Moreover, walking has not only positive effects on the cardiovascular system! It also promotes my balance and muscle strengthening, especially in older people. Just like reading and literature, walking is essential!"
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Can walking be considered a sport, in your opinion?
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"Race walking, for example, can be considered a sport because it requires more constraints in its practice. I would rather say that "normal" walking is the first step towards resuming sport!"

In your opinion, are all means good to motivate people to move?
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"Anything that gets people moving, I support! The problem with our current society is that people move so little that more and more chronic diseases are developing. Methods for gamifying physical activity are excellent ways to help us prevent these diseases, and all the other problems that this can cause."

Would you prescribe concepts like WeWard to your patients?
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"I first discuss motivation with my patients. And if I see that the patient needs some form of stimulation, I inform them that there are solutions like apps in the spirit of WeWard."

Do the issues around the risks associated with sedentary behavior represent a public health issue?
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"Physical inactivity is indeed a public health issue. I also recommend practicing it at a pace vigorous enough to observe real benefits. For example, I can talk while walking, but not be able to sing! (Laughter)
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I recommend an average daily walking duration of at least 30 minutes per day, which can be broken down into 3 x 10 minutes. As for the number of steps, 7,000 to 8,000 each day is a good pace to maintain good health. This whole mechanism related to walking also has benefits on the brain and memory."

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