Dooley Noted: 3/3/2014
While touring Sydney, my friends and I took many opportunities to take the stairs. My friend and colleague Simon Tydd made a remark about stairs that stuck with me.
Simon: “Stairs are a good measure of health, aren’t they? They really point out your weak points.”
Last week, a normally fit Simon was struck with pneumonia. He knew when he got winded walking up a flight of stairs.
If you have musculoskeletal issues in the lower extremity, they show up climbing stairs.
If you have breathing issues or sickness, they show up climbing stairs.
Knees, butt, lungs, feet, balance, vision, you name it: the stairs will show the issues.
By all means, visit your doctor and get vitals and blood work checked. But when you’re on your own, the stairs provide accurate feedback to your current health state.
If you start taking the stairs more often, your health status will improve from that change alone.
As always, it’s your call.
– Dr. Kathy Dooley
