Take The Stairs Your Heart Will Thank You, But Would your Mind?

Take the stairs. Your heart will thank you I don't have a problem with the main media publishing what some scientists have said about a particular study, whether it was well conducted or not. I won't publish studies that in my mind are not backed up by facts. I have listened to this particular way of thinking about stairs vs. elevators or escalators since I was a boy and Im sorry to say that was a long time ago.  My point of view is and I know Im not alone because most people know this idea of ignoring advances in science to make your life easier if not better at your own risk. I told my healthcare provider and is not the first time that a Doctor has started thinking about medical science and ignoring my feelings about it: "No one lives forever and I really don't want to be the first one. Extending my life for a week, month year Vs. My happiness is not for me". I don't smoke because I know chances are it will give me lung cancer. Plus my breath will smell bad and my teeth will be yellow. But the science on that is clear and not smoking does not mean you are going to be miserable all your life. If you can't quit and you tried to quit but are not able to and you know chances are you will be hooked up to a machine anytime in the future, then is your responsibility. But coming back to the stairs, Unless you have been in this place of coming home exhausted after a day's work, the escalator is one of the things you will feel wonderful about. Remember you can always jog which is 😊what I used to do and other things to make up for the fact you use elevators and escalators. Adam Gonzalez, Writer.

by Allison Aubrey, Correspondent

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There’s one thing I miss about commuting. For years, I took the DC Metro to work, and after sitting most of the day in the office, I used to challenge myself to see how many stairs I could climb on the escalator on my way out. As most people stood on the right, I'd try to race up on the left side.  I was in good company – it seems a lot of other office workers knew their bodies needed some movement. Now new research suggests we were onto something. It finds that regularly taking the stairs can reduce the risk of heart disease and help people live longer. The study looked at data from about 480,000 participants, ranging in age from mid-30s to mid-80s. People in the habit of climbing stairs had about a 39% lower likelihood of death from heart disease, compared to those who didn't climb stairs. They also had a lower risk of heart attacks and strokes. Study author Dr. Sophie Paddock, of the University of East Anglia and Norfolk in the UK, told me she was surprised that “such a simple form of exercise” could have such a big effect.  The moment you start climbing steps, your body responds. "Your heart rate goes up, your cardiac output goes up, and your circulatory status improves," explains Dr. Manish Parikh, chief of cardiology at New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital. "And all of those we know have positive impacts.” So, how much stair climbing is enough? One study found climbing six to ten flights a day was linked to a reduced risk of premature death. And another study found climbing more than five flights a day lowered the risk of cardiovascular disease by 20%. The benefits can kick in pretty quickly. A review published earlier this yearfound a minimum of four to eight weeks are needed to start improving your health. The study found regular stair climbing can improve body composition, blood pressure, insulin sensitivity and blood pressure. Adding stair climbing is a good way to incorporate quick bursts of aerobic exercise into your day, says Carlin Long, a cardiologist at University of California, San Francisco. "I think if people are able to achieve six to ten flights of exercise on stairs a day, that that would be a good target," but this will depend on your personal level of fitness, Long says. Taking the stairs can also help build muscle, says Tamara Horwich, a cardiologist at UCLA who focuses on women's heart health. You raise your heart rate and work your muscles at the same time.  "You are building up those leg muscles by having to pull your weight up to the next stair," she says.  Perhaps the best thing about stair climbing is "it doesn't require a gym membership," Long says. It’s something you can weave into your day at home or work. (Of course, there's also value in more sustained exercise, such as a longer bike ride, a walk or jog, or a treadmill session, to meet the recommended 30 minutes a day of exercise.) After writing this story, I realized I needed a new way to incorporate stairs into my daily habit since I’m not a regular commuter anymore.   I live on a split level, with six stairs up and six stairs down... so I don't get a lot of climbing built-in at home. But there's a middle school two blocks from my house with a big outdoor staircase from the parking lot up to the playground level. I've added the school steps to my morning walk. I’m only on Day 3 but I’m trying to make it my new routine! How much stair climbing is enough?Check out the full story to find out.