Stair climbing is a unique form of exercise that can have a powerful and positive impact on your health, over time. While most of us think of exercise as “sport”, evidence shows it is everyday activities, like walking and climbing stairs, that are most closely associated with improved health.
Stair climbing is recommended by doctors and health authorities worldwide because high quality studies show:
- Climbing just eight flights of stairs a day lowers average early mortality risk by 33%
- Seven minutes of stair climbing a day can halve the risk of a heart attack over 10 years
- Just two minutes extra stair climbing a day is enough to stop average middle age weight gain
- Stair climbing improves cardiovascular fitness and is officially classed as a “vigorous” form exercise, burning more calories, per minute, than jogging.
By raising our heart rate, stair climbing helps protect against high blood pressure, weight gain and clogged arteries thus lowering the risk of developing chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, vascular dementia and even some cancers.
Stair climbing also exercises our bones and muscles, improving strength, bone density and muscle tone. This is especially important for women in sedentary office jobs as they have a significantly higher osteoporosis risk than men.
Incidental physical activities, like stair climbing, are also associated with improved mental health. They cause our bodies to release endorphins, the so-called “feel good” hormones and provide time think and reflect – key factors in managing everyday stress and tensions.