Climbing the stairs without taking the elevator… Changes that occur in people who make it a habit – Chosun Ilbo VRESP TODAY

A study showed that climbing stairs, practiced as a habit, helps extend lifespan.

A research team from the University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK, and Norfolk and Norfolk University Hospital Foundation announced on the 27th (local time) that they had confirmed the link between climbing stairs and extending lifespan at the ‘European Society of Cardiology Conference Preventive Cardiology 2024’ held in Athens, Greece.

The research team conducted a meta-analysis of nine studies that looked at the effect of climbing stairs, regardless of the number of stairs or climbing speed. Meta-analysis is a method of reanalyzing the results of multiple existing studies on a specific topic. The subjects of the study were 480,479 people (53% female) aged 35 to 84, including those who were very healthy and those with various medical histories, including peripheral artery disease.

The results of the study showed that people who climbed stairs as a daily habit had a 24% lower risk of death from all causes compared to people who did not climb stairs. Additionally, the risk of dying from cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack, heart failure, and stroke was found to be 39% lower. In addition, it also helped reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Dr. Sophie Paddock, who conducted the study, said, “Climbing stairs for short periods of time can be easily implemented in daily life,” and added, “If you can choose between stairs and elevators, using the stairs will be beneficial to your heart health.” He added, “I recommend that you first use the stairs from around your home or workplace.”

However, climbing stairs can be detrimental to people with poor knee joints. People who have already weakened their joints are at risk of developing ‘fallen back syndrome’, which makes a sound every time you bend or straighten your knees. In addition, elderly people with reduced balance or muscle strength or people with anemia should avoid excessive climbing of stairs.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends consistent physical activity, saying it can prevent non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes. However, only one in four people worldwide are said to be engaging in physical activity at the level recommended by WHO. Studies have shown that people with insufficient physical activity have a 20 to 30 percent increased risk of death compared to those with insufficient physical activity.