Walking This Many Flights Of Stairs Could Cut Heart Disease Risk By 20%

Walking 10,000 steps a day is a solid goal for those looking to stay active and reap the benefits of consistent movement. This loose recommendation has been around for quite some time now, and it's featured on many fitness trackers. 

A study published in Atherosclerosis found that walking five or more flights of stairs daily could reduce the risk of heart disease by 20%. 

Researchers analyzed UK Biobank online data for 450,000 adults that estimated heart disease risk from genetic and established risk factors. The data also included information about participants' lifestyle habits and daily stair-climbing activity.

They found that climbing five flights reduced the risk of CVD in adults who were less susceptible to heart disease and helped offset the risk for those who were predisposed to CVD. 

Of course, it's expected that some stair climbing is better than none—so the initial finding may not be too surprising. But, the real shocker is the relatively small number of flights climbed and what a significant impact on CVD risk that has. 

After all, heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death in the U.S.1, so research piecing together the puzzle of prevention is both exciting and important. 

If you have the ability to climb five or more flights of stairs a day, it may be a worthy endeavor for supporting heart health—and it only takes a few minutes.