A Ridiculously Simple Way to be 24% Less Likely to Die

I have been telling people for years stairs are magical for your brain. It turns out there's more. Climbing stairs is a minimal yet potent exercise that keeps your cells active and reduces health risks associated with sedentary lifestyles. Stated differently: more stairs, more health.

Terry Small once said, "I take the stairs two at a time. That way I cover off active and lazy at the same time." Seriously though, stairs are really good for you.

I was in a hotel lobby one recent evening working on my presentation for the next day. Right beside the checkin there were open stairs and elevator. I keep track of the 50 people that came and went. Not one person used the stairs! The hotel only had four floors. 

A meta-analysis of nine studies involving over 480,000 people found :

• Regular stair climbers had a 24% lower risk of dying from any cause compared to those who climbed stairs less often.
• They also had a 39% lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease.
• Stair climbing was associated with reduced risks of heart attack, stroke, and heart failure.
• Better brain health. What's good for your heart is good for your brain. 

The data suggested a "sweet spot" for benefits at approximately six flights of stairs per day (around 60–70 steps).

One of the studies authors, Vassilios Vassiliou, noted, "Taking the stairs is a practical and often overlooked way to build physical activity into your daily life." I think of stairs as "exercise snacks". 

This brings us back to the hotel lobby. Not one person used the stairs. My theory? They didn't see the stairs. So much of life comes down to simple awareness. Situational awareness is key. 

It's not always easy to fit in a workout, but stairs are everywhere. We just have notice them, and if you can, use them. Eventually they become a habit!

You don't have to see the whole staircase, just the first step. ~ Martin Luther King

Thanks for reading. You are a genius!

This article was first published in Terry Small's Brain Bulletin newsletter.

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