The daily habit that can lower your risk of dying by up to 39 percent

READ MORE: How getting more light exposure could help you to stay slim See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy LUKE ANDREWS, U.S. SENIOR HEALTH CORRESPONDENT Published: 23:56 BST, 29 August 2026 | Updated: 23:56 BST, 29 August 2026

Ask most physically fit people how they stay healthy, and they will likely say they spend hours in the gym. But new research suggests that simply choosing to skip the elevator or escalator in favor of climbing the stairs every day could help you to live a longer life.Researchers at the University of East Anglia in the UK, analyzed data from nine studies involving more than 450,000 people.Overall, they found that those who took the stairs 'regularly' had a 39 percent lower risk of dying from heart disease than those who did not.Over the 14 years participants were tracked, stair users were also found to have a 24 percent lower risk of death from any cause than those who normally use an elevator.Dr Sophie Paddock, a cardiologist involved in the research, said: 'We found a consistent association between stair climbing and lower risk of both cardiovascular death and overall mortality.'Unlike going to the gym or doing a workout, climbing the stairs is something you can easily fit into your day at home, at work or when you're out. It's a good option for people who don't have much time or easy access to exercise.'She added: 'If your choice is between taking the stairs or the [elevator], go for the stairs. Even brief bursts of physical activity have beneficial heart health impacts.' Scientists have found that taking the stairs could help you live longer