Taking the stairs could protect your heart and help you live longer
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- University of East Anglia researchers analyzed data from more than 480,000 people across nine studies and found regular stair climbers were 39% less likely to die of cardiovascular disease and 24% less likely to die from any cause than those who rarely climbed stairs.
- The meta-analysis also linked frequent stair climbing to lower risks of heart attack, stroke, and heart failure, with participants followed for a median of 14 years and ranging in age from 35 to 84.
- Prof Vassilios Vassiliou of UEA's Norwich Medical School noted that cardiovascular disease cases nearly doubled between 1990 and 2019 and called stair climbing "a practical and often overlooked way to build physical activity into daily life."
- Dr. Sophie Paddock said short bouts of stair climbing can be easily fit into a daily routine at home or work, making it a realistic option for people without time or access to formal exercise.
- The study, published in the American Journal of Cardiovascular Drugs, found that climbing about six flights per day showed the greatest benefit in one included cohort, though researchers said the ideal "dose" of stair climbing remains unclear.
- The researchers cautioned that stair climbing may not be suitable for everyone, particularly people with mobility limitations or joint conditions, and called for future studies using wearable trackers to measure activity more precisely.
Why it matters: With more than a quarter of adults worldwide failing to meet recommended activity levels, the researchers frame stair climbing as a free, scalable intervention that workplaces and public buildings could promote to reduce cardiovascular deaths at the population level — without requiring gym access or dedicated workout time.
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