Anglim Private Health is a private GP surgery in Bury St Edmunds. We aim to deliver convenient and individualised care for our small group of patients. We take time to fully understand our patient’s lives and work with them to find ways to improve health. This includes individual advice about healthy activities they might be able to take part in.
On a Thursday we like to write a news article about a local healthy activity. And today we are talking about walking. Bury St Edmunds is one of the most beautiful towns and Suffolk provides an amazing backdrop for a range of walks. Bury St Edmunds enjoys a range of opportunities to just get out and walk. Suffolk’s weather also helps with East Anglia having the fewest rain days of any region in the UK.
Walking has a huge range of health benefits. I think most of us will be aware of the benefits of generally keeping active but there are specific health benefits of walking which go beyond that.
- Walking has a separate effect on appetite and a sweet tooth. In people who report they have a sweet tooth, it was demonstrated that those who took on regular walks both ate less chocolate and had less chocolate intake when they were in a stressful situation.
- Walking can help protect you from wear and tear arthritis and reduce the pain caused by arthritis. Arthritis is not quite as simple as joints wearing out, and a moderate amount of exercise can significantly reduce the effects of arthritis. Improving the muscles that support joints with arthritis can directly reduce the pain of arthritis.
- Walking can help reduce stress, promote social activity and improve mood and anxiety.
- Walking can reduce your viral illnesses. Adults who walk for at least 20 minutes, five times a week have been shown to have 40% fewer sick days than those who exercise once a week or less.
And for those trying to lose weight, walking is excellent as it allows a reasonable level of energy use over an extended period of time which can really help with weight loss as part of an overall plan.
You can of course enjoy walking in your own way, but the opportunity to take part in a walking group can add in a huge measure of social interaction and fun. And taking part in a group probably means you will continue to take part in your new activity on an ongoing basis. They can seem a little scary to join or start, but everyone within walking groups had their first day once and they are always supportive of new members.
In Bury St Edmunds we have the Bury St Edmunds Ramblers. They are a local group who promote walking and organise well researched walks. They also offer in conjunction with Feel Good Suffolk, wellbeing walks which are ideal for beginners. The Ramblers group have walks from 4 miles up to 13 miles. And the wellbeing walks which are often just an hour or less are ideal for beginners.
I’m sure the Ramblers or Feel Good Suffolk would be happy to hear from you if you wanted to start your walking journey. However you decide to start your regular walks, take the time to enjoy our amazing town and countryside with the added benefit of improving your health and wellbeing.
If you want to find out more about Anglim Private Health, the benefits of a Private GP service and the services we offer please look at our website: www.anglimhealth.co.uk
And if you want to book an appointment with a private GP, that can be done through our book an appointment link or call us on 01284 245665. If you would like to attend for a no obligation discussion about becoming a member of the practice, you can do that through the same booking link or on the phone.