A recent study has found that those who climb stairs daily have reduced the risk of dying by 24% from those who do not tend to climb. So, the next time whenever you enter a lift or are willing to take an elevator when it is possible to take the stairs, think twice. Doing this can protect you from a heart attack.
Another research in the UK found that climbing stairs reduces the risk of dying from cardiovascular issues by almost 40% when compared to people who don’t use them at all. The results were presented at a preventive cardiology congress of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). Dr Sophie Paddock a faculty and study author at the University of East Anglia and Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital Foundation Trust said, “Even gentle physical activity have beneficial health impacts and short bouts of stairs climbing should be a target to integrate into daily routines”.
The participants for the study were healthy and some of the participants with previous heart attack history or peripheral arterial disease. Among them, it was found that those who climbed stairs had a 25% less risk of dying during the study, compared to those who didn’t climb at all. Those who climbed stairs also found that they had a 39% lesser chance of dying from cardiovascular disease and reduced risk of developing cardiovascular disease or heart attack, stroke, or heart failure.
7 Ways Climbing Stairs Promotes Heart Health
Climbing stairs possesses many potent health benefits, here are some of them:
Heart-Pumping Activity
One of the major perks of climbing stairs? It dishes out one heck of a cardio workout. The moment you start climbing, your heart rates jump, fortifying your heart and enhancing your body’s circulation.
Keeping Weight in Check
Tired of fighting the flab? Try stair climbing – an efficient calorie crusher. It’s an efficient fat-burning activity aiding anyone looking to shed unwanted weight or just stay in fine shape.
Muscles Getting a Kick
Stair climbing isn’t all about cardiovascular health. It’s a fantastic physical exercise that conditions and strengthens your muscles. It uses several muscle groups – quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes, and calves – offering a comprehensive workout that can better your strength and resilience.
Hiking Endurance
With regular stair climbing, you may soon notice an upgrade in your stamina. Over time, those taxing flights of stairs won’t be as alarming, as you find yourself less fatigued – a clear sign of improved stamina and fitness.
The Mindfulness Factor
Did you know stair climbing could also promote your mental well-being? Physical activities like this have a positive impact on mental health, reducing stress, anxiety, and depression by inducing the release of our beloved ‘happy hormones’, endorphins.
Long Haul Benefits
Participating in habitual physical activities, such as stair climbing, can help amplify lifespan and life quality. People who engage in heart-friendly exercises, potentially add more happy years to their lives and up their quality of life, especially in the latter part of their lives.
No-Fuss Exercise
Shun the need for pricey equipment or gym subscriptions – suit up and find yourself some stairs. Whether you are at home, in the office, or out in public, stair climbing easily fits into your routine. It’s a convenient fitness alternative for anyone, regardless of age.