Many people believe that we should be walking 10,000 steps a day as part of a healthy lifestyle. Some studies have found that walking 10,000 steps can improve overall health. But new research suggests that doing just another 500 steps a day could prolong your life. A new study found 2,300 to 4,000 steps a day is linked to lower rates of heart disease and early death, and adding 500 to 1000 steps per day can further reduce the risk. Evidence suggests that younger people can benefit from up to 20,000 steps per day. But between 6,000 to 10,000 steps per day is ideal for people older than 60.