NEW YORK (AP) \u2014 Tom McGee began climbing stairs for exercise 20 years ago as part of an effort to stay off cigarettes. It hasn\u2019t always been easy: His climbs in hotel stairwells sometimes draw the attention of security guards.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve gotten kicked out of about every hotel in the city,\u201d said McGee, a 69-year-old market researcher who lives near Chicago. <\/p>\n
Climbing stairs<\/a> has become increasingly ingrained in exercise guidance, but many people who do it regularly say it can be challenging in an era where office tower managers commonly cut off access to stairwells.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a look at stair climbing as a form of exercise, and some of the unexpected challenges some people face in trying to do it.<\/p>\n Stair climbing is great exercise<\/p>\n Dr. Luis Rodriguez, a semi-retired pediatric pulmonologist, participates in stair-climbing events and lauds the benefits.<\/p>\n \u201cYou are working your legs. You are working your heart. You are working your lungs,\u201d said Rodriguez, 66. \u201cYou can get a lot more benefit than just walking, because gravity is working against you.\u201d<\/p>\n He\u2019s backed up by research that found climbing stairs for four minutes is roughly equivalent to about 10 minutes of brisk walking or 20 minutes of slower walking. <\/p>\n In 2018, federal physical activity guidance<\/a> was changed to promote short-burst activities \u2014 like taking the stairs every time you have to move between floors at work. The guidelines said such activities can add up over the course of a day, meaning you can improve your health even if you can\u2019t go for a run or do a 30-minute workout.<\/p>\n This article is part of AP\u2019s Be Well coverage, focusing on wellness, fitness, diet and mental health. Read more Be Well.<\/a><\/p>\n Many people \u201cdon\u2019t realize that they don\u2019t have to exercise all in one bout for it to be effective,\u201d said Stella Volpe, a Virginia Tech exercise expert.<\/p>\n Stair climbing also has the potential to improve mental health for many people and is associated with improved feelings of energy, said Jennifer Gay, a public health researcher at the University of Georgia.<\/p>\n People who might have trouble on stairs should talk to their doctors before trying a climbing regimen, experts say.<\/p>\n To some building owners, stairs are a potential liability<\/p>\n The American Lung Association holds fundraising events each spring in office towers in cities across the country. The \u201cFight for Air\u201d events are widely regarded as fun, but organizers say the name draws from the shortness of breath people can experience after climbing dozens of floors \u2014 or having a lung disease.<\/p>\n Landlords aren\u2019t always so accommodating. <\/p>\n Some law firms tell landlords and building owners that they can he held liable if someone trips or slips on a staircase. Poor lighting, liquid on steps and broken handrails are among the conditions that can be cited in lawsuits if someone falls and gets hurt.<\/p>\n Many building managers have taken such advice to heart, saying stairs can only be used in emergencies. <\/p>\n