Written by Administrator Monday, 04 October 2010 07:42
Health experts from across East Africa and other parts of the world made the observations during a recent meeting aimed at sensitizing more people to walk as opposed to jogging - a practice favoured by Ugandan rich people.
Meeting under their umbrella body - the East African Medical Practioneer's Association (EMPA) at Protea Hotel in Kampala recently, the experts advised that in order to combat the growing number of lifestyle diseases like heart attack and cancer, people need to get into the habit of doing strenuous exercises.
Experts say that there is a high possibility for people especially in the age brackets of 25 and 50 years, developing hypertension, cancer, high cholesterol because of not doing enough exercises.
Dr Micah Alphonso, a Ugandan-based American physiotherapist and working at the International Hospital Kampala says that walking four miles each week is priceless and less taxing to a person than is running or going to the gym.
"Walking, as an exercise, may sound like one big joke to most young and middle-aged people since they would prefer to live an easy life than to engage in more strenuous exercises like walking," the doctor observed.
"We face a crisis as more adults continue to spend several hours seated in cars and in offices. Their bodies slowly begin to accumulate fat and before one knows it, they are suffering from high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol levels and other diseases that come with unhealthy living," observed Dr. Alphonso.
Dr Alphonso adds: "In most cases, many people spend years without playing any sport and their bodies are totally unfit. So, when they engage in strenuous activities like running and jogging, this might actually do them harm than good since they are likely to suffer from sprains, muscle pulls and other injuries which take a lot longer to heal in old age."
At the forum, Dr Githau Lithuri, a Kenyan medical practitioner, said that as one grows older, the need for such a person to engage in doing mild exercises becomes necessary.
"With age, a milder and more efficient technique of exercise is needed for the elderly and overweight people. Walking is simple, enjoyable and not taxing; it also comes with numerous health benefits," added Dr. Lithuri.
He adds that through regular walking, one is able to burn down fats and excess calories in his body which help reduce the accumulation of fat and keep blood vessels open thus reducing incidences of heart-related illnesses.
A study done by a team of physiotherapists at Holy Cross Saints Hospital, New Jersey, USA, revealed that walking improved mental health because it relieves people of the stress they might have been subjected to.
Dr Teopista Ruganda, of the Uganda Ministry of Health explains that when a person walks, he is likely to enjoy a cool breeze or to see a couple of things that amuse him or make him cheer up a bit; thus helping in reducing the amount of stress exerted on the brain during the day.
Rugunda adds: "The beauty with walking is that it's easy, free and can be enjoyable especially if it's done with friends."
The benefits of a good exercise can only be realized after a daily routine which means that walking should be incorporated and fixed in one's schedule. It must become routine because if the cycle is interfered with it may prevent one from reaping the full benefits earned from walking.
Over time, walking has continued to be a popular pastime and it's no wonder that companies like MTN have done walking campaigns geared at improving the fitness levels of their employees. Be it at a workplace or at home people are encouraged to take long walks every day after work or during the weekend to improve on their health.
The doctors hope to launch a sensitization campaign on this year's Independence Day (October 9, 2011), to get more Ugandans to exercise more.
By Timothy kihumuro
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