Regularly taking the stairs instead of the elevator can significantly reduce the risk of premature death and cardiovascular disease, reports infohub.kz.
Researchers from the University of East Anglia and the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital Foundation conducted a meta-analysis of nine studies involving more than 480,000 people aged 35 to 84. The sample included both healthy volunteers and individuals with heart conditions.
The analysis showed that regularly choosing the stairs over the elevator strengthens the body. Participants who preferred walking up steps had a 39% lower risk of dying from cardiovascular diseases. Stair climbing also reduces the likelihood of developing heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure, and the risk of death from any cause decreases by 24%.
Researcher Sophie Paddock emphasized that even short bursts of activity are beneficial for health. Climbing stairs is a simple and accessible form of exercise that can be easily incorporated into daily routines at home or work. The more stairs a person climbs during the day, the greater the positive effect on the body.