New research presented at ESC Preventative Cardiology 2024, a scientific congress of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), suggests that climbing stairs is linked to a longer life. Dr. Sophie Paddock of the University of East Anglia and Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital Foundation Trust in Norwich, UK, stated that choosing the stairs over the elevator can benefit your heart, as even short periods of physical activity can be advantageous.
Health impacts, and short bursts of stair climbing should be an achievable goal to incorporate into daily routines.”
Cardiovascular disease is largely avoidable2 through behaviors such as exercise. However, more than one in four adults globally do not meet recommended levels of physical activity.3 Stair climbing is a practical and easily accessible form of physical activity that is often overlooked. This study examined whether climbing stairs, as a form of physical activity, could contribute to reducing the risks of cardiovascular disease and premature death.
The authors gathered the most reliable evidence available.studies have found that climbing stairs can have a positive impact on health. A meta-analysis was conducted by researchers with expertise in the field, and they included nine studies with a total of 480,479 participants in their analysis. The participants in these studies ranged in age from 35 to 84, and 53% of them were women. The participants included both healthy individuals and those with a history of heart attack or peripheral arterial disease. Regardless of the number of flights of stairs and the speed of climbing, the researchers found that compared to not climbing stairs, stair climbing was associated with a 24% reduced risk of dying from any cause and a 39% lower likelihood of dying from cardiovascular disease.The study found that stair climbing is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, such as heart attack, heart failure, and stroke. Dr. Paddock suggested that people should incorporate stair climbing into their daily routine based on these findings. The study also indicated that the more stairs climbed, the greater the benefits, but further confirmation is needed. Therefore, people are encouraged to take the stairs at work, home, or anywhere else.
