From Lab to Life Take the Stairs Help Your Heart

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Keeping our hearts healthy is crucial. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide – and cases have almost doubled between 1990 and 2019.

There are many things known to be good for cardiovascular health – but are difficult or even troublesome to do.  Here is one thing we can all do, that is pretty easy.

Just – take the stairs.  Not the elevator.

But what is the science behind it?

Science Daily.com reports today:  “Simply choosing the stairs could have surprisingly big benefits for your heart and longevity. A large analysis involving more than 480,000 people found that regular stair climbers were 39% less likely to die from cardiovascular disease and 24% less likely to die from any cause than people who rarely took the stairs. They also had lower risks of heart attack, stroke, and heart failure.”

What exactly is “regular stair climbers”?  Simply:  In the elevator bay, look for the sign that says ‘stairs’ or the relevant symbol.  Take them, at least part way.  It’s easy – no need to find and enroll in a fitness center or devote time to it.  The heart workout is right there, in front of us, at hand…  take it.  Take the stairs. **

** Sophie Paddock, Rathna Veerni, U. Bhalraam, James Meng, Emily Dawson-Plincke, Vasiliki Tsampasian, Vassilios Vassiliou. Evaluating the Impact of Stair Climbing on Cardiovascular Risk Reduction: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. American Journal of Cardiovascular Drugs, 2026; DOI: 10.1007/s40256-026-00811-x

“Researchers set out to determine whether regularly climbing stairs might help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and premature death.   The team reviewed nearly 1,900 studies before analyzing data from more than 480,000 people included in nine high-quality studies. Participants were followed for a median of 14 years. The group included both healthy individuals and people with a previous history of heart problems. Participants ranged in age from 35 to 84, and 53% were women.   Dr. Sophie Paddock, also from UEA’s Norwich Medical School and a cardiology specialist registrar at the NNUH, said: “After pooling results from over 450,000 participants, we found a consistent association between stair climbing and lower risk of both cardiovascular death and overall mortality.

“Unlike going to the gym or doing a workout, climbing the stairs is something you can easily fit into your day at home, at work or when you’re out. It’s a good option for people who don’t have much time or easy access to exercise.”