Heart disease can be prevented by walking, which also increases heart rate, decreases blood pressure, and strengthens the heart. In just 24 weeks, post-menopausal women can drop their blood pressure by roughly 11 points by walking just one to two kilometers every day. According to researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, women who walk for 30 minutes a day can lower their risk of stroke by 20%, and by 40% when they pick up the pace.