### Can Climbing Stairs Daily Reduce Heart Disease Risk? Recent research has shown that climbing at least five flights of stairs daily can significantly reduce the risk of two deadly types of heart disease: coronary artery disease and ischemic stroke. These conditions fall under a group known as atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). **What is ASCVD?** ASCVD includes conditions like coronary artery disease, which is the buildup of sticky plaque in the arteries leading to the heart, and ischemic stroke, which occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery to the brain. **How Effective is Stair Climbing?** - Climbing at least five flights of stairs daily can reduce the risk of ASCVD by 3%. - Climbing six to ten flights daily can reduce the risk by 16%. - Climbing eleven to fifteen flights daily can reduce the risk by 22%. **Study Details** The study analyzed data from over 450,000 adults over a follow-up period of about 12.5 years. The findings were published in the September edition of the journal Atherosclerosis. **Expert Opinion** Dr. Lu Qi, director of the Tulane University Obesity Research Center, stated that short bursts of high-intensity stair climbing are a time-efficient way to improve cardiorespiratory fitness and lipid profile, especially for those unable to meet current physical activity recommendations. Stairs are publicly available and offer a low-cost way to incorporate exercise into daily routines. **Additional Findings** The study also found that people who climbed stairs regularly at the beginning but later stopped had a higher risk of ASCVD than those who never climbed stairs at all. **Statistics** - Ischemic stroke accounts for 88% of all strokes. According to a 2019 study, 11% of people died within 30 days of an ischemic stroke, and within 5 years, 70% either died or required help for daily living. - More than 18 million people in the U.S. have coronary artery disease, which killed over 360,000 people in 2019. In summary, incorporating stair climbing into your daily routine can be a simple yet effective way to reduce the risk of serious heart conditions.