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4w ago

Stair Climbing Linked to Lower Risk of Heart and All‑Cause Death

Researchers say the finding points to an easy, low‑cost way to boost daily activity without proving it prevents heart disease.

Jacqueline Hooton says that every inconvenience is an opportunity for movement – if you have the right attitude
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Conrad Jensen, Unified Fire, and Bruce McGowan and James Hulet, Unified Fire and PD, climb stairs during the 9/11 Tower Stair Challenge at America First Field in Sandy on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. FBI special agents and support staff, along with local law enforcement, participated in a Tower Stair Challenge climbing 2,071 steps, representing the 110 floors in each of the twin towers.
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Overview

  • The systematic review and meta-analysis, published Aug. 13 in the American Journal of Cardiovascular Drugs, pooled nine studies with more than 480,000 adults and a median follow-up of about 14 years.
  • Pooled results showed stair climbers had a 39% lower risk of cardiovascular death and a 24% lower risk of death from any cause, and several studies also linked stair use to lower risks of heart attack, stroke and heart failure.
  • Authors and commentators stress the evidence is observational, note wide variation in how stair use was measured, and warn that residual confounding could partly explain the associations.
  • One large cohort in the review suggested about six flights a day might be linked to the greatest benefit but researchers say wearable tracking and stronger study designs are needed to define a safe, effective daily 'dose'.
  • Public-health experts say stair climbing is a practical way for many people to add brief bursts of vigorous activity but people with heart symptoms, severe breathlessness, balance problems or joint limits should consult a clinician before increasing stair use.