Choosing the stairs can reduce your risk of heart disease
by IDS Director of Exercise Physiology, Teen/Young Adult Specialist, Kathryn Gentile Alvarez
When you’re given the option between taking the stairs or an elevator, which would you choose? Why?
Personally, I’m always choosing the stairs. It’s faster, I don’t like small spaces or even taking the slightest risk of getting “stuck”, and I prefer to keep moving my body. Even at airports, you’ll catch me carrying my suitcase up the empty stairwell.
Did you know that taking the stairs can help you live a longer life?
Recent preliminary findings say that people who regularly take the stairs have a 24% reduced risk of dying from any cause, and a 39% reduced risk of dying from heart disease, compared to those who always take the elevator.
To get these outcomes, researchers pooled data from nine studies involving more than 480,000 people.
We’re faced with small options throughout the day where we can make little choices that lead to more overall movement. Take the more active option!
We know that all movement is helpful in keeping us healthy. Take the stairs, park your car further away, go up and down all the aisles at the store, and walk while you’re making phone calls. Do whatever you can to keep yourself on the move. As I’m sure we’ve all heard before, it’s “the little things”. 🙂
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