Testing Heart Health With Stair Climbing
New study shows accuracy of a stair-climb test.
New research shows that timing how long a person takes to climb four flights of stairs can be a useful method for testing heart health and a simple on-the-spot assessment. One minute or less indicates good heart health, and 1 minute 30 seconds or longer may indicate higher risk. In the latter case, the person may want to see a healthcare professional, according to research by Jesús Peteiro, MD, PhD, a cardiologist from University Hospital A Coruña, Spain.
The study was presented at EACVI—Best of Imaging 2020, a scientific congress of the European Society of Cardiology. To learn more, go to bit.ly/2RwcNyM.
See also: Pushups and Heart Health
Shirley Eichenberger-Archer, JD, MA
Shirley Archer, JD, MA, is an internationally acknowledged integrative health and mindfulness specialist, best-selling author of 16 fitness and wellness books translated into multiple languages and sold worldwide, award-winning health journalist, contributing editor to Fitness Journal, media spokesperson, and IDEA's 2008 Fitness Instructor of the Year. She's a 25-year industry veteran and former health and fitness educator at the Stanford Prevention Research Center, who has served on multiple industry committees and co-authored trade books and manuals for ACE, ACSM and YMCA of the USA. She has appeared on TV worldwide and was a featured trainer on America's Next Top Model.
