A study titled “The effects of stair climbing on arterial stiffness, blood pressure, and leg strength in postmenopausal women with stage 2 hypertension” that was published in a recent issue of the journal Menopause revealed that simply using the stairs could help alleviate the symptoms of menopause, such as high blood pressure and leg muscle weakness.
The study participants, who were Korean women, were required to climb 192 steps several times a day for four times a week and two to five times a day. The researchers observed that the study participants’ blood pressure dropped and that the muscle strength in their legs improved.
This type of exercise is most needed by postmenopausal women because they are more prone to having lower estrogen levels in their body, which can lead to blood pressure and muscular problems. (Related: 5 Natural Remedies For The Worst Symptoms of Menopause.)
“This study demonstrates how simple lifestyle interventions, such as stair climbing can be effective in reducing the negative effects of menopause,” said Dr. JoAnn Pinkerton, who is the executive director of the North American Menopause Society.
Women can exercise without having to leave their house or pay a fee. Exercise not only improves the overall health of menopausal women, it helps with fat loss, improves lipid profiles, and reduces the risk of osteoporosis.
Before this study was conducted, stair climbing had not been analyzed for its impact on arterial stiffness and blood pressure. Previous studies have shown that menopause can affect the body and mind. Depression risk, for instance, increases as a woman’s reproductive hormones dip between the ages of 45 and 60.
Menopause can cause headaches, depression, hot flushes, and night sweats, among others. It also has the potential of causing bone disease and memory loss.
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