If instead of the elevator you prefer the stairs, then you have set your sights on a long healthy life! This was shown by a new meta-analysis of studies presented at the ESC Preventive Cardiology 2024 conference of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), which took place at the Athens Concert Hall from April 25 to 27.
Achievable goal
“If you can choose between the elevator and the stairs, take the stairs as it will help your heart” noted the lead author of the meta-analysis Dr Sophie Paddock from the University of East Anglia and explained that “even short ‘bursts’ of physical exercise have a positive effect on health and in this context going up or down the stairs is an achievable goal to integrate into every person’s daily life”.
More than 1 in 4 do not exercise enough
Cardiovascular disease is largely preventable through activities such as exercise. However, today more than one in four adults worldwide do not achieve adequate levels of physical activity. Stair climbing is a practical and easily accessible form of exercise that is often overlooked. In this particular study, it was investigated whether stair climbing, as a type of physical activity, can play a role in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and premature death.
The “profile” of meta-analysis
The study authors gathered the best available data on the subject from nine studies with a total of 480,479 participants. The studies included both healthy volunteers and volunteers with a previous history of a heart attack or peripheral artery disease (PAD). The participants were aged 35 to 84 and 53% of them were women.
Significant reduction in morbidity and mortality risk
The analysis found that stair climbing was associated with a 24% reduced risk of death from any cause and a 39% reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease. It was also associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attack and stroke as well as a lower chance of developing heart failure.
The more steps, the more health benefits
According to Dr. Paddock “based on these results, we would like to encourage the population to adopt stair climbing in their daily life. Our study showed that the more stairs someone climbed, the greater the health benefits – but this finding needs to be confirmed by further studies. In any case, whether you are at work, at home or somewhere else, take the stairs”. Leave the elevator… to your health!
Theodora N. Tsoli
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