In one study, 50 steps a day reduced the risk of cardiovascular disease by 20%
Climbing stairs regularly can significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, particularly coronary heart disease, characterized by the buildup of plaque in the arteries, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes.
A recent study found that people who climb 50 steps throughout the day reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease by 20 percent compared to people who don’t. The results were published in the journal Atherosclerosis.
Climbing stairs protects the heart
The team, which includes researchers from Chinese, British and North American universities, analyzed data on 458,860 adults from the UK Biobank, a large UK healthcare database.
They collected information on stair use, lifestyle and sociodemographic factors and followed the individuals for 12.5 years. They then analyzed the stair-using habits of participants with coronary heart disease, ischemic stroke or other complications related to cardiovascular disease.
The work defined an average staircase as having 10 steps. They tracked the incidence of cardiovascular disease in people who climbed stairs 1 to 5 times a day, 6 to 10, 11 to 15, 16 to 20, or more than 21 times a day.
Although the greater protective effect of stair climbing was associated with people who did not have a genetic risk for coronary heart disease, the practice was also found to be compensatory for those who had a pre-existing risk.
More benefits than walking
According to one of the authors of the work, Lu Qi, director of the Obesity Research Center at Tulane University, in the USA, climbing stairs brings various benefits to cardiovascular health, such as weight control, improvement of metabolism, reduction of inflammation and of the risk of type 2 diabetes.
In addition to being a type of aerobic exercise, like walking, climbing stairs involves muscle work on the lower limbs and buttocks, which brings additional benefits.
Of course, people who suffer from chronic joint problems may not be inclined to climb many steps every day. For these people, walking is a safer exercise alternative.
For those who have no contraindications, replacing the elevator with stairs every now and then can be a simple way to improve your health and fitness without spending extra money.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
