A growing body of research suggests that regularly climbing stairs can have significant health benefits, particularly in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and slowing age-related physical decline. A recent study by the University of East Anglia analyzed data from five studies involving 450,000 participants aged 35 to 84 and found that individuals who frequently climbed stairs were 39 percent less likely to die from heart-related issues and 24 percent less likely to die from any cause over a 14-year period compared with those who climbed stairs less often.

The study’s lead researcher, clinical professor Vassilios Vassiliou, highlighted that most of the health benefits are achieved by climbing about six flights of stairs—or roughly 60 steps—daily, although even smaller amounts of stair climbing offer advantages over none. Stair climbing is categorized as vigorous physical activity because it rapidly raises the heart rate and engages multiple muscle groups, notably in the legs, while also strengthening the respiratory system. Over time, this form of exercise can help control blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

Additional research supports these findings, including work from Newcastle University, which noted that stair use can help maintain a healthy body weight, lower blood pressure, and improve aerobic fitness into older age. Similarly, a Japanese study tracking nearly 7,000 individuals over 65 found those living in homes with stairs experienced less age-related physical decline than peers residing in lift-accessed or single-storey homes.

Experts emphasize that stair climbing involves complex physical and neurological coordination. London-based physiotherapist Helen O’Leary explained that stair use requires lifting the body weight vertically, controlling balance on one leg, and coordinating various joints to clear each step, providing benefits beyond simple leg strengthening. Rheumatologist Dr. Gurdeep Dulay added that stair climbing helps maintain joint mobility in the hips, knees, and ankles, which supports everyday activities like walking and standing up from a chair.

However, concerns have been raised about the impact of moving to single-storey homes, such as bungalows, which may reduce these daily opportunities for physical activity. The condition colloquially known as "bungalow legs" refers to the weakening of leg muscles often observed in people who relocate to homes without stairs. O’Leary noted that patients who move to such homes frequently experience a decline in fitness, partly due to fewer steps taken each day and less overall movement.

Despite these findings, experts acknowledge that bungalows remain an appropriate choice for older adults with mobility difficulties or respiratory conditions that make stair climbing impractical. Professor Vassiliou stressed that for those individuals, bungalows are ideal living environments. In such cases, incorporating other forms of physical activity—such as chair sit-to-stand exercises or step-ups on low platforms—can help maintain strength, mobility, and cardiovascular health.

The consensus among health professionals is that while climbing stairs is a valuable form of exercise with notable health benefits, maintaining regular physical activity in any form remains crucial as people age.