Researchers have found that climbing about 50 flights of stairs daily may help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by 20%.
The study included more than 400,000 adult participants in the United Kingdom, and was published in the medical journal Atherosclerosis.
Study author Dr. Lu Qi, a professor at the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine at Tulane University in the United States, said that these results highlight the potential advantages of climbing stairs as a preventive measure against cardiovascular disease and atherosclerosis.
Experts say that climbing stairs is more effective for cardiovascular health than walking 10,000 steps a day. They based this on data collected from participants at risk for cardiovascular disease based on family history, genetic risk factors, specific risk factors such as high blood pressure and smoking history, along with their lifestyle habits.
Chi stated - in a press release - that frequent climbing of high-intensity stairs is an effective way to improve cardiorespiratory fitness and lipid levels.
Gradual practice
It is also noteworthy that the research showed that participants who stopped climbing stairs daily had a 32% increase in cardiovascular disease.
Although adding a few degrees during your day is great, experts advise doing so gradually, especially if you are not accustomed to this type of activity.
A person is advised to consult his doctor before climbing the stairs as a vigorous exercise activity, especially if he is over forty years old, or suffers from chronic diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes.
If breathing becomes difficult while climbing the stairs, or chest pain occurs, he may need to seek emergency medical attention, as this may be an indication of angina pectoris.
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