Climbing stairs linked to longer life

Climbing stairs linked to longer life

Climbing stairs is linked to a longer life, according to a study presented today at ESC Preventive Cardiology 2024, a scientific congress of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).

If you have a choice between taking the stairs or the elevator, take the stairs as it helps your heart. Even short bouts of physical activity have positive effects on health, and short bouts of stair climbing should be an achievable goal that can be incorporated into everyday life.”

Dr. Sophie Paddock, study author from the University of East Anglia and Norfolk and the Norwich University Hospital Foundation Trust, Norwich, Great Britain

Cardiovascular diseases can be largely prevented through measures such as physical exercise. However, more than one in four adults worldwide do not achieve the recommended level of physical activity. Climbing stairs is a practical and accessible form of physical activity that is often overlooked. This study examined whether stair climbing as a form of physical activity could help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and premature death.

The authors collected the best available evidence on this topic and conducted a meta-analysis. Studies were included regardless of the number of flights of stairs and climbing speed. There were a total of nine studies with 480,479 participants. The study population included both healthy participants and those with a history of myocardial infarction or peripheral artery disease. Ages ranged from 35 to 84 years and 53% of participants were women.

Compared to not climbing stairs, climbing stairs was associated with a 24% lower risk of dying from any cause and a 39% lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. Climbing stairs was also associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack, heart failure and stroke.

Dr. Paddock said: "Based on these results, we would encourage people to incorporate stair climbing into their everyday life. Our study found that the more stairs you climb, the greater the benefits - but this still needs to be confirmed." Whether at work, at home or elsewhere, take the stairs.”

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