Stair Climbing Cuts Cardiovascular Death Risk

A systematic review and meta-analysis led by researchers from the University of East Anglia and Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital found that regular stair climbing is associated with a 39% lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease and a 24% lower risk of dying from any cause. The analysis, published in the American Journal of Cardiovascular Drugs, pooled data from nine studies involving over 480,000 participants followed for a median of 14 years. Stair climbing was also linked to lower risks of heart attack, stroke, and heart failure. The researchers reviewed nearly 1,900 studies and noted that even brief bursts of stair climbing can improve cardiorespiratory fitness and cholesterol levels. While the findings show an association rather than causation, they suggest that incorporating stair climbing into daily routines could be a practical, scalable public health intervention. The study was led by Prof. Vassilios Vassiliou and Dr. Sophie Paddock, with commentary from cardiologists Paul Drury and Opel Baker.