Written by Bob Curley on December 14, 2020 — Fact checked by Dana K. Cassell Researchers say the ease or difficulty someone has walking upstairs may reveal potential heart health issues. Westend61/Getty Images Researchers say how quickly a person can walk up four flights of stairs may be an indicator of their heart health. Experts note that cardiologists use stair climbing in some physical exams, but the exercise shouldn’t be a substitute for regular checkups. They also say there are other tasks, such as carrying a bag of groceries to a car, that can be used as a preliminary gauge of heart health.