Walking challenge combatting local heart disease

ON THE MOVE — Marci Snyder Crawford, director of the YMCA Wellness Center at the St. John Arena, and YMCA employee Abe Zane walked around the facility’s track, which individuals will use for the upcoming Walking into Wellness Challenge. -- Christopher Dacanay
STEUBENVILLE — February is American Heart Month, so the Jefferson County General Health District and YMCA Wellness Center at the St. John Arena are presenting a free walking challenge to help combat heart disease locally.
Launched on Saturday, the Walking into Wellness Challenge dares Jefferson County residents to walk at least 28 miles through February, for a chance to win prizes. Miles must be completed and tracked at the YMCA Wellness Center, located at 3151 Johnson Road, Steubenville.
During the month, everyone will have access to the YMCA’s track — members and non-members of all ages. After an initial registration at the front desk, participants can walk around the track to progress in the challenge, though not all 28 miles must be completed at one time.
Eight laps around the track is considered one mile for the challenge. Participants will self-track and report their progress to the front desk before leaving, and they’ll receive marks on a punch card as a record. Those who complete all 28 miles in February will be entered for a chance to win gift cards, sponsored by Edward Jones financial adviser Paul Sweeney II.
The YMCA is open Monday through Friday from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
This is the health district’s second year partnering with the YMCA for American Heart Month activities, recalled Health Commissioner Andrew Henry, and the two have also presented a holiday wellness challenge.
“The Y has been a dedicated community partner and they always support opportunities to build a healthier community,” Henry said.
“I love working with the health department,” said YMCA director Marci Snyder Crawford. “I would collaborate as much as possible to put overall health in our community’s mind. February is Heart Month, so what better way for the Y to bring heart health awareness than collaborate with the health department and have a walking challenge.”
According to a release from the health district, heart disease ranks as the top cause of death in the U.S., despite often being preventable. A heart-healthy lifestyle can aid in reducing the risk of heart disease, the release notes, and the Walking into Wellness Challenge is designed to help make that possible.
“A 2023 Northwestern Medicine study found that older adults (people aged 60 and older) who walk 6,000 to 9,000 steps per day had a 40 percent to 50 percent lower risk of cardiovascular disease, such as heart attack or stroke, compared to those who took 2,000 steps per day,” the release states. “For most people, it takes about 2,000 to 2,500 steps to walk a mile, so the ultimate goal will be for participants to build a foundation that allows them to walk multiple miles per day.”
The National Institute of Health recommends getting quality sleep; proper nutrition; controlling blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar; stopping smoking and managing stress as other crucial steps for maintaining a healthy heart, in addition to physical activity, the release states.
“Our county has significant health struggles,” Snyder Crawford said. “So, when we have any opportunity to put out initiatives for overall health, I jump on it. … Health is health for everyone, and to teach movement to our kids from a young age instead of technology — which is a lot nowadays — is huge.”