A Few Daily Flights of Stairs May Trim Heart-Disease Risk

A large meta-analysis of about 480,000 people across nine studies found that daily stair climbers had a 39% lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease and a 24% lower risk of death from any cause over a median follow-up of 14 years. While the research shows associations rather than causation, stair climbing is a simple, low‑impact activity that can benefit cardiovascular health, with some data suggesting roughly six flights per day may offer the greatest benefit. It’s generally safe for many, but may not be suitable for people with mobility or joint issues; more research is needed to define optimal stair-climbing guidelines.