COLUMBUS, Ohio – Many people aim to lead a healthier lifestyle in the New Year and Wednesday is the perfect opportunity.
Wednesday, January 8 is National Take the Stairs Day.
“Stair climbing burns two to three times more calories than walking or running,” according to a statement by Brittany Sinzinger, senior manager of development for the Lung Association. “In fact, just casually climbing stairs requires 8-11 calories of energy per minute. Also, stair climbing lets you exercise without a gym or any equipment. Just take the stairs at home, at work or while shopping.”
The Lung Association shared three reasons to take the stairs for National Take the Stairs Day:
To Improve Your Health: Stair climbing is a great way to burn calories but is also a simple way to improve your overall health. According to The Journal of the American Medical Association’s 2018 Physical Activities Guidelines for Americans, experts recommend small changes to daily activities such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator. The report states that changes like this can increase overall health and reduce the risk of many chronic diseases.
To Feel What It’s Like For People with Lung Disease: After a vigorous climb up stairs, you may be gasping for air and your lungs might be burning. While this is temporary for you, this is what it can feel like every day for people living with lung disease. Take the stairs and then educate yourself about lung diseases like asthma, lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease that millions of people live with every day.
To Support Your Community: Take the stairs Wednesday, and then sign up for the Fight For Air Climb to race up one of Columbus’ notable skyscrapers. The Fight For Air Climb at Rhodes Tower is set for February 15. Climb 40 floors for a total of 880 stairs with hundreds of people to raise awareness and money to fight lung disease. Learn more and register by clicking here.
