LONDON, April 17: Reaching 10,000 steps a day is a popular fitness goal for many, but new research suggests that how fast you walk might be even more important than how far.

According to a study led by British researchers, walking at a brisk pace—over 4 miles per hour—could nearly halve the risk of developing heart rhythm issues, including atrial fibrillation, a condition often referred to as a "silent killer."

The study, which monitored more than 420,000 adults, found that brisk walking was particularly beneficial for women under 60 who were of a healthy weight and individuals with pre-existing long-term health conditions.

Experts say these findings highlight the importance of addressing lifestyle factors, such as physical activity, early on to prevent heart-related conditions. The number of atrial fibrillation cases worldwide has doubled over the last 30 years, with over 60 million people now affected. The condition can lead to heart failure, strokes, or even sudden cardiac death, which involves a complete loss of heart function.

In the study, just over half of the participants reported walking at an average pace, around three to four miles per hour. About 40 percent walked briskly (over 4 mph), and 6 percent walked at a slow pace (under 3 mph).

Over a 13-year follow-up period, nearly one in ten participants developed heart rhythm disorders, including:

Atrial fibrillation (23,526 cases)

Cardiac arrhythmias (19,093 cases)

Abnormally slow heart rate (5,678 cases)

After adjusting for lifestyle factors like smoking, the researchers found that:

Average walking pace lowered the risk of heart rhythm abnormalities by 35%

Brisk walking pace reduced the risk by 43%

Specifically, compared to slow walkers:

The risk of atrial fibrillation fell by 38% for average-paced walkers and 46% for brisk walkers.

The risk of cardiac arrhythmias dropped by 21% and 39%, respectively.

The findings were published in the journal Heart, but the researchers cautioned that the study was observational, meaning it cannot establish direct cause and effect. They also noted limitations, such as the self-reported nature of physical activity data.

Sedentary lifestyles remain a major health issue in the UK. Many people spend their days sitting at desks, commuting in cars or trains, and relaxing in front of the TV, contributing to thousands of preventable deaths annually. According to the World Health Organization, around 2 million people die each year globally due to physical inactivity, placing it among the top 10 causes of death and disability worldwide.

Lack of physical activity has long been linked to a range of health problems, including cardiovascular disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer.

Recent data also reveals a concerning trend: premature deaths from cardiovascular conditions—such as heart attacks and strokes—have reached their highest levels in over a decade. Alarmingly, heart attacks among people under 40 in England are increasing, according to NHS records highlighted by MailOnline.

While past decades saw improvements in heart health due to reduced smoking, better surgical interventions, and innovations like stents and statins, new challenges such as delays in emergency response times and longer waits for medical tests and treatments are contributing to the resurgence of heart-related illnesses.