The number of steps from my car parked in the parking garage at the University Hospital to the top of these stairs is 210. The number of stairs between the escalators is 25. The number of steps from the bottom of the escalators to the cafeteria is 103. I did not count the steps from the top of the stairs to the elevator or from the elevator to my husband’s room on the top floor.

I figure I walk about 1000 steps total for each daily visit, including walking up the stairs after every visit to the cafeteria. I thought that was pretty good. Then, my husband told me that a person should walk 10,000 steps a day to maintain good health.

An article in New Scientist says walking between 9000 and 10000 steps per day appears to reduce the risk of early death or heart related event.

My heart was beating out of my chest and my lungs were huffing and puffing with every climb up those stairs and walking the distance to the elevator and from there to my husband’s hospital room. Those stairs really should count for something…extra!

I wish driving counted. I am going to put a lot of hours and miles on the car for the next several weeks visiting my husband every weekend in the physical rehabilitation facility located three and a half hours from home for the next 6 weeks. He just spent 7 nights in the hospital following an emergent (5-hour) knee replacement revision surgery due to an MRSA infection that then spread to his bloodstream. 

I will walk at the gym or around the neighborhood to increase my number of steps while at home. I will listen to books on tape or podcasts driving to and from the PT rehabilitation facility. I will increase my heart health and mind health while my husband is simultaneously increasing his physical health.

Goals are good.