Sitting for long periods isn't good, so is standing for longer periods okay?

A new study, recently published in the medical journal International Journal of Epidemiology , has found that, in the long term, standing more than sitting does not improve cardiovascular health and may even increase the risk of circulatory problems, according to the medical website Medical Express.

The study, conducted by scientists at the University of Sydney (Australia), included 83,013 participants who did not have heart disease at the start of the study.

Standing for long periods does not improve cardiovascular health and may increase the risk of circulatory problems due to prolonged standing.

The authors used data on newly diagnosed heart disease and circulatory disorders collected over a 7-8 year period from participants to investigate the impact of prolonged sitting and prolonged standing on cardiovascular disease. These data were measured using wearable devices similar to smartwatches.

The findings revealed that, in the long term, prolonged standing does not improve cardiovascular health—including coronary heart disease, stroke, and heart failure—but may increase the risk of circulatory problems associated with prolonged standing, such as varicose veins and deep vein thrombosis, according to Medical Express.

However, the results showed that standing for long periods did not increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Researchers also found that sitting for more than 10 hours a day increases the risk of both cardiovascular disease and orthostatic tachycardia (a condition where the heart rate increases abnormally when standing).

This suggests that the best approach is still to engage in more physical activity throughout the day.

Lead author, Dr. Matthew Ahmadi, from the University of Sydney, said: “The key point is that standing for too long doesn’t compensate for a sedentary lifestyle and can be dangerous for some people’s blood circulation.”

Although researchers found that standing more didn't yield health benefits, they cautioned against sitting for long periods.

Sitting for more than 10 hours a day increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and orthostatic tachycardia.

The best way to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease for people who sit a lot.

Dr. Ahmadi said there are other ways for people who are generally sedentary to improve their cardiovascular health.

This means that people who frequently sit or stand for long periods should schedule regular exercise throughout the day.

For those who typically sit for long periods, the best way to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease is to incorporate more random movement throughout the day and exercise.

Walking around, using the stairs, taking frequent breaks when driving long distances, or leaving your desk and moving around during your lunch break are simple ways to keep yourself active.

A study by the same group of authors published earlier this year also showed that about 6 minutes of vigorous exercise or 30 minutes of moderate exercise each day can help reduce the risk of heart disease even in people who sit for more than 11 hours a day.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/ngoi-nhieu-khong-tot-vay-dung-nhieu-lieu-co-on-185241019170210706.htm