Gaby
Due to the harmful effects of prolonged standing, researchers have dubbed it the “new smoking.” It turns out that standing is not a cure-all for the issues caused by long periods of sitting. In fact, standing can lead to a host of health problems.
Not long ago, some researchers claimed that swapping long hours of sitting for standing could positively impact heart health and even partially offset the detrimental effects of a sedentary lifestyle. This led many to confidently replace traditional office desks with standing desks. However, a recent study from the University of Sydney has debunked this notion, revealing that prolonged standing may actually increase the risk of heart and vascular issues.
What Did the Researchers Discover?
Australian researchers analyzed data on heart function and circulation from 83,013 British adults, with an average age of 61. All participants wore special devices on their wrists to track their movements during the study.
Over seven years of observation, the scientists found that about eight percent of participants suffered from cardiovascular diseases, including heart disease, stroke, and heart failure. Two percent of volunteers reported circulation problems, such as varicose veins or deep vein thrombosis.
The researchers discovered that standing for two hours a day does not increase the risk of developing circulation problems. However, this risk rose by 11 percent for every additional half hour spent standing, as reported by the Daily Mail.
According to the researchers, the risk of circulation problems among participants was significantly higher after several hours of standing. Conversely, sitting for 6-10 hours slightly reduced this risk.
The team noted that each additional hour of sitting beyond ten hours increased the likelihood of circulation issues by 26 percent. Moreover, remaining stationary for over 12 hours raised the risk of cardiovascular diseases by 13 percent for each hour.
Dr. Matthew Ahmadi, the lead author of the study, stated, “Prolonged standing does not compensate for a sedentary lifestyle.” He also emphasized that “long periods of being on your feet do not improve cardiovascular health in the long run and increase the risk of circulation problems.”
The researchers advised those looking to reduce their risk of cardiovascular diseases not to replace sitting with standing but to engage in more physical activity.
Professor Emmanuel Stamatakis, a public health expert and co-author of the study, recommended, “Take walks, attend meetings on foot, use the stairs, take regular breaks during long trips, or use lunch breaks to step away from your desk and move around.” The findings of the study were published in the International Journal of Epidemiology.
