AVOID LIFTS, USE STAIRS: HOW IT KEEPS THE HEART HEALTHY

In many ways, technology has posed a dangerous threat to our hearts. Lack of activity has brought several physiological changes to the circulatory system of the body. 

In the last decade, hypertension (high blood pressure), diabetes, obesity, and many heart diseases have become quite prominent, with cardiovascular problems becoming the biggest killer in the world. 

Studies have shown that incorporating simple exercises like brisk walking and jogging at least 150 minutes a week can actually increase the life of your heart and keep you healthy for a long time. 

Even if you don't have the time to intentionally go for a walk every day, making movement a priority in your busy life can reduce the risk of cholesterol and high blood pressure. 

One of the ways to do so is by opting for stairs and avoiding using lifts. Cardiologists believe that using the stairs has many benefits and also tests how healthy your heart is. 

Dr Ravi Prakash, consultant cardiologist at PSRI Hospital told IndiaToday.in that climbing up the staircase is an excellent cardiac exercise as it has a sustained calorie-burn benefit. 

"This cardiac exercise has proven benefits for your bones and increases muscle strength. Because you're climbing up the stairs, the calorie burn in the body is sustained," said Dr Ravi Prakash. 

However, before any exercise, check for shortness of breath, chest pain and knee aches. "In such cases, you need to consult a doctor immediately," cautioned Dr Prakash. 

According to Harvard Health, when the heart rate increases due to exercise, it keeps the walls of the arteries smooth and slippery, preventing white blood cells and platelets from latching on and causing damaging inflammation and artery-blocking blood clots. 

It relaxes the smooth muscle cells of the artery wall's middle layer, preventing spasms and keeping arteries open. This prevents the formation of plaque, which ultimately lead to heart disease and stroke.

Benefits of using the stairs on the heart

When you use the stairs instead of an elevator or lift, there is an increased demand for oxygen and energy in the circulatory system. Here's what happens in the heart when you climb stairs:

Increased Heart Rate: As you start climbing the stairs, your muscles require more oxygen to work efficiently. To meet this demand, your heart rate increases. The heart pumps blood more rapidly, which delivers oxygen and nutrients to the working muscles.

Stronger Contractions: The heart's muscular walls contract more forcefully to push a greater volume of blood with each beat. This increased force helps maintain adequate blood flow to the body's tissues, including the leg muscles you're using on the stairs.

Wider Blood Vessels: The body responds to the increased demand for blood flow by dilating (widening) the blood vessels. This process, known as vasodilation, reduces resistance to blood flow, making it easier for blood to circulate and reach the muscles.

Increased Cardiac Output: Cardiac output is the amount of blood the heart pumps per minute. When you climb stairs, your heart increases its cardiac output to ensure that enough oxygen-rich blood reaches the muscles and organs that need it.

Improved Oxygen Delivery: Your lungs work harder to extract oxygen from the air and transfer it into your bloodstream. This oxygen-rich blood is then pumped by the heart to the muscles, where it's used to produce energy for physical activity.

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2023-09-21T13:29:22Z dg43tfdfdgfd