[verbatim] Sister Mary Dorothea Sondgeroth, O.P., President, St. Dominic Health Services, Inc. and chair for the 2009 Metro Jackson Start! Heart Walk is challenging local companies to participate in the American Heart Association's National Start! Walking Day by allowing their employees to incorporate a 30 minute walking break into their day and raise money for heart disease research and prevention. National Start! Walking Day is April 8.

"American workers are becoming more sedentary as we sit at our desks, behind our computers for most of the day and physical inactivity is a major risk factor for heart disease," said Sister Dorothea. "We are challenging companies to not only encourage physical activity, but also donate to the American Heart Association's Start! movement, a program that is committed to getting people engaged in physical activity so that they can live longer, stronger lives."

Studies show that walking for as little as 30 minutes a day will improve circulation; reduce stress and anxiety; increase enthusiasm and optimism; improve muscle tone and strength; lower cholesterol, triglycerides and blood pressure; and promote weight loss. A person is 1.5 to 2.4 times more likely to have coronary heart disease if he or she is inactive, but walking vigorously for 30 minutes a day can help reduce high blood pressure and cholesterol and reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. Adults should get at least two and a half hours a week of moderate-intensity physical activity.

The Metro Jackson American Heart Association wants to raise $25,000 and get thousands of Mississippi residents walking in just one day. This is just a portion of the association's goal to raise more than $500,000 for the annual Start! Heart Walk. For more information about participating in National Start! Walking Day, call the American Heart Association at 601-321-1200. Companies and individuals can also raise money online at http://www.metrojacksonheartwalk.kintera.org.

Sponsors for the 2009 Metro Jackson Start! Heart Walk are; Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance, Entergy of Mississippi, Jackson Heart Clinic, Central Mississippi Medical Center, St. Dominic Health Services, Baptist Health Systems and BlueCross BlueShield of Mississippi.