Making small, daily changes such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator may seem minor, but they can make a big difference for your heart in the long run. “Individuals who are physically active are much less likely to develop cardiovascular disease,” explains Johns Hopkins cardiologist Chiadi E. Ndumele, M.D., M.H.S.
Yours in Service,
Rachel Huerta, ARNP
Owner of Direct Primary Care of Boca Raton
2017 Healthcare Woman of Distinction Award Winner
Immediate Past-President of The Rotary Club of Boca Raton
Small Habits Like Taking the Stairs Add Up
It’s easy to dismiss a habit like taking the stairs as too small to matter, but that’s exactly what makes it sustainable. You don’t need a gym membership, special equipment, or an hour of free time to fit it in — you just need a set of stairs you were probably going to walk past anyway. A few flights a day, done consistently, adds real cardiovascular activity to a routine that might otherwise be mostly sitting.
The bigger lesson here isn’t really about stairs. It’s that movement doesn’t have to be a separate, scheduled event to count. Parking farther away, pacing during phone calls, or taking a short walk after meals all work the same way: small, low-effort choices that compound over weeks and months.
At Direct Primary Care of Boca Raton, we like helping members find these kinds of realistic changes rather than handing out a generic exercise plan that doesn’t fit their actual life. If you want a second opinion on what small habits would make the biggest difference for you, talk with your provider about it at your next visit.
Next time you’re standing in front of an elevator, try the stairs instead. It costs nothing, takes almost no extra time, and your heart will notice the difference over time even if you don’t feel it right away.