Heart Health
Climbing stairs linked to lower risk of heart disease
Research we're watching
- Reviewed by Christopher P. Cannon, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Heart Letter; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
People who climb more than five flights of stairs daily may have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, new research finds.
The study, which included nearly 460,000 adults, relied on data about their stair climbing habits and other lifestyle behaviors, which researchers collected at the start of the study and five years later. Researchers later tallied up the number of heart attacks, strokes, and related cardiovascular problems participants had during the follow-up period, which lasted a median of 12.5 years.
Compared with people who said they didn't climb any stairs, those who reported climbing five flights of stairs daily — about 50 steps — were about 20% less likely to experience a heart-related problem or stroke. According to the study authors, stair climbing is a minimal-equipment, low-cost way to lower cardiovascular risk that's easy to add to a person's daily routine. The study was published online Sept. 16, 2023, by the journal Atherosclerosis.
Image: © YakobchukOlena/Getty Images
About the Author
Julie Corliss, Executive Editor, Harvard Heart Letter
About the Reviewer
Christopher P. Cannon, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Heart Letter; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
Disclaimer:
As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
