Health Walking Preferentially Decreases Higher Blood Pressure and Improves Mood.

is a German term from the words (cure) and (area), and refers to improvements in patients' health in areas full of nature. We investigated the effect of health walking in the 2 urban-style health walking courses opened in Gifu City on systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), heart rate, and mood. The subjects were 454 people (136 males, 318 females; mean [±SD] age 61.7±9.9 years) taking part in health walking for the first time. SBP, DBP, and heart rate were measured before and after health walking. Mood was assessed using a 10-item checklist after health walking. health walking significantly decreased SBP and DBP and increased heart rate. The decrease in SBP was significantly greater in the SBP ≥140 than <140 mmHg group, indicating that SBP before health walking was inversely correlated with the change in SBP. Similarly, the decrease in DBP was significantly greater in the DBP ≥90 than <90 mmHg group, indicating that DBP before health walking was also inversely correlated with the change in DBP. All 10 items on the mood assessment were significantly improved after health walking. health walking preferentially decreases higher blood pressure and improves mood.