He says it can help to improve cholesterol levels, with good cholesterol going up and bad cholesterol going down.
And then there's the heart-healthy benefit, as it can improve cardiovascular health. Even something as simple as climbing the stairs in an apartment building.
According to a recent study, men who climb at least 20 floors a week had a 20 percent lower risk of stroke or death, and mortality rates were 33 percent lower for men who climbed 55 flights or more each week.
And now, some schools are promoting climbing stairs to better health. At Cooper Union's new academic building, there's an new elevator, but it's a skip-stop elevator that forces students to incorporate the stairs, because it stops on only three floors.
You can also climb stairs at the gym. The Stairmaster was created in 1983, and while it looks the same, there have been massive improvements over the years.
"Now they are a lot smoother and have more options with resistance," said Geralyn Coopersmith, with Equinox. "It's one of the best things you can do for your butt."
"It's very intense, gets your heart going, it's a hard workout," fitness buff Stephanie Rapaport said.
And, according to the NYC Health Department, there are other benefits to this type of exercise:Climbing towards good health New York City Health Department
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