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Stair climbing test can predict your risk of dying from heart disease, experts say

Can you hike up three flights of stairs without stopping? If not, you could be in trouble

BEING able to hike up three flights of stairs without stopping slashes your risk of heart death by up to 63 per cent, experts claim.

Medics say the step test is an easy home check that predicts the chances of dying young.

 Being about to go up three flights of stairs easily is important
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Being about to go up three flights of stairs easily is importantCredit: Getty - Contributor

Spanish scientists said middle-aged adults who can walk up three floors without needing a break have good heart function.

It means their chances of cancer death fell by around half compared to those with the worst performance, according to a new study.

And their risk of being killed by other causes fell by two-thirds.

Lead researcher Dr Jesús Peteiro, a cardiologist at University Hospital A Coruña in Spain, said: “If you can walk very fast up three floors of stairs without stopping, or fast up four floors without stopping, you have good functional capacity.

 Those who can are at a much lower risk of heart issues
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Those who can are at a much lower risk of heart issuesCredit: Getty - Contributor

“If not, it’s a good indication that you need more exercise.”

The research was presented at EuroEcho-Imaging 2018 conference in Italy.

More than 12,600 adults with an average age of 62 carried out an exercise test as part of the study. Medics then followed them for five years.

Researchers found the risk of heart death was 1.2 per cent among the most fit, compared to 3.2 per cent in the inactive group.

Active participants had a 0.8 per cent chance of dying from cancer, while for couch potatoes it was 1.5 per cent.

 Feeling breathless? Why not take the three minute step test to find out how fit you are?
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Feeling breathless? Why not take the three minute step test to find out how fit you are?Credit: Getty - Contributor

For all other deaths, having good heart function reduced the risk to 0.6 per cent, compared to 1.7 per cent for those with poor readings.

Dr Peteiro added: “Our results provide further evidence of the benefits of exercise and being fit on health and longevity.

“In addition to keeping body weight down, physical activity has positive effects on blood pressure and lipids, reduces inflammation, and improves the body’s immune response to tumours.”

Many PTs will ask new clients to complete a Harvard step test, which is used to assess someone's ability to recover after a strenuous exercise by checking the recovery rate.

You can do it at home really easily.

How to do an at-home Harvard Step Test:

  • get something that you can step onto - your bottom step or a low stool
  • set a three-minute timer
  • step on and off the stepper, keeping a consistent pace
  • take your pulse for one minute immediately after the timer goes off

How good is your heart rate score?

According to the YMCA: 

  • Anything under 94 beats per minute is fine
  • The average rate for 26-55-year-olds ranges between 79 and 110 beats per minute. Anything higher is poor
  • Excellent scores are under 76 for under-45s and under 80 for those older
  • Poor is for younger people is between 111 and 121 beats a minute, and that goes up to 125 beats for 65+

The lower your heart rate is after the test, the fitter you are.

Don't worry too much if you do have a really high one - just concentrate on bringing it down by becoming more active.

Health officials warn three million middle-aged Brits are inactive, raising their chances of diabetes, heart disease and cancer.


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