Ditch the desk for National Walking Day April 6

Heart disease is the nation's No. 1 killer and stroke is the leading cause of disability. LA's workforce can make a positive impact on their heart and brain health, starting with simple steps -- take 30 minutes of the day on National Walking Day, April 6, 2016, to get up and walk and stay active throughout the month.

Those who work and live in or near Downtown LA are invited to participate in the National Walking Day celebration hosted by the American Heart Association (AHA) and Union Bank Plaza (445 South Figueroa Street, Los Angeles CA 90071) from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Join hundreds of employees for a one-mile group walk, free blood pressure screenings, CPR demonstration, healthy treats and more.

The AHA designated the first Wednesday of April as National Walking Day to encourage Americans to adopt an active lifestyle and reduce their risk of heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases.

For 2016, there is a fun way to participate nationally: post the number of minutes walked on April 6 on social media using #AHALaceUp and #LAWalkDay. All minutes posted with the hashtags will count toward a national total goal of 100,000 minutes.

For more information about the event, or to download a toolkit to host your own group walk, visit www.heartwalkla.org.

National Walking Day is sponsored in Los Angeles by Union Bank and Keck Medicine of USC.