Blood pressure under control? Check. Cholesterol level okay? Check. Gait speed good? Umm . . . why does that matter, you ask?

Because gait speed may very well be another important "vital sign" -- like heart rate, blood pressure, and cholesterol level -- that helps predict how long you'll live.

Ready, Set, Go
Your gait speed is the speed at which you walk when you're really trying. Faster walkers may be more resilient and able to bounce back better from a health crisis. Which may explain why the zippy over-65 walkers in a recent study enjoyed lower mortality rates. The magic speed for staying young? At least 2.25 miles per hour for people 65 and older. So time yourself on a treadmill or around the track. (While you're at it, check your heart-rate recovery with this tool.)

Contingency Plan for Slow Walkers
If you don't hit the 2-mile-per-hour mark, don't despair. Improving your gait speed boosts your longevity, too. Start by doing some interval training, where you intermittently pick up the pace for a short distance. Some strength training can help you walk better and stronger, too. Here's an easy strength workout that uses your body as a gym.

And start walking -- every day. Before you know it, you'll be covering more ground in a little less time.

If you need a reminder of why walking is so great for you, check out this article.

Tell Us What You Think!
The RealAge Web site has a new and improved look and feel. Give us your feedback on it!