LIFE HACKS
Taking the Stairs Could Help You Live Longer
Here’s a good reason to skip the elevator. An analysis involving more than 480,000 people found that people who regularly climbed stairs had a 39% lower risk of dying from heart disease and a 24% lower risk of dying from any cause compared with people who didn’t climb stairs.
Stair climbers were also less likely to suffer a heart attack, stroke or heart failure. One of the studies suggested about six flights of stairs a day --that works out to roughly 60 to 90 stair steps a day-- may provide the biggest benefit, but even smaller amounts appeared to help.
The findings don’t prove that stairs alone are responsible for a longer life, but climbing them is an easy, free way to sneak some cardio and strength exercise into your day — no gym required.