Hit the stairs for better heart health

Hit the stairs for better heart health


Stepping into an elevator and pushing a button to get to the fifth floor apparently isn’t the best recipe for good heart health. Instead, hit the stairs.

Tulane University researchers used data from more than 450,000 adults tracked over a dozen years and calculated their susceptibility to heart disease, from their genetics to whether they ever smoked.

Scientists also quizzed them on how frequently they walked up stairs.

The study found that those who walked more than five flights of stairs every day, or the equivalent of 50 stair steps, reduced their risk of cardiovascular disease by about 20%. The threat of coronary artery disease and stroke also fell.

That doesn’t mean you have to walk all the stairs all at once. It’s OK to take the elevator to the fourth floor and then walk up to the fifth — as long as you hit your quota before the day is over.

So, get out of the habit of taking an elevator for short trips. Of course, if the mood strikes, and you’re feeling your oats, feel free to take all 50 stair steps at once.

Once you start this daily regimen, however, it’s a good idea from your heart’s perspective to keep at it. Researchers note people who stopped climbing 50 stairs or more a day had a 32% higher risk of heart disease compared with those who didn’t report climbing stairs at all.

The thing about stairs is that they’re everywhere. And they’re free, without the need to buy expensive stair-climbing equipment. That makes this type of exercise an accessible way to stay fit and healthy.

Here’s a hint for those who find themselves exhausted after climbing up a couple of floors at the office.

It’s OK to take the elevator down.

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