A recent study published in the journal Heart suggests that walking faster can significantly reduce the risk of arrhythmias—irregular heartbeats reported by CNN. Compared to slow walkers, those who walk at a moderate pace have a 35% lower risk, while brisk walkers reduce their risk by up to 43%.
The most common form of arrhythmia is atrial fibrillation (AFib), where the upper chambers of the heart beat irregularly. Other types include bradyarrhythmia (slow heart rate) and ventricular arrhythmia (fast, irregular rhythm in the lower chambers).
Lead researcher Dr Jill Pell from the University of Glasgow explained that walking is an accessible form of exercise requiring no gym or equipment. Analysing data from over 500,000 UK adults aged 40–69, the study found that just 5 to 15 minutes of moderate-paced walking daily could help lower the risk of AFib, especially for people under 60, those with high blood pressure, or multiple chronic conditions. Women also saw notable benefits.
Experts not involved in the study, such as Dr Martha Gulati and Dr Sean Heffron, supported the findings. While they note lifestyle factors like fitness, weight, and general health may influence results, they agree walking faster can be a powerful preventive tool.
The researchers now call for intervention studies to further confirm whether increasing walking speed directly reduces arrhythmia risk. As Dr Gulati noted, “Start slow if you must, but start. The speed will come.”