Gaby
Because of its harmful effects, some researchers have called prolonged standing the “new smoking.” Standing isn’t a cure-all for problems caused by long periods of sitting. In fact, standing can bring its own health risks.
Not long ago, some studies suggested that swapping long hours of sitting for standing could improve heart health and partly offset the harms of a sedentary lifestyle. That led many people to replace traditional desks with standing desks. But a recent study from the University of Sydney challenges that idea, showing that prolonged standing may actually increase the risk of heart and vascular problems.
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 wrist-worn devices to track their movement during the study.
Over seven years of follow-up, about eight percent of participants developed cardiovascular disease, including coronary heart disease, stroke, and heart failure. Two percent reported circulation problems, such as varicose veins or deep vein thrombosis.
The team found that standing for two hours a day did not increase the risk of developing circulation problems. However, the risk of circulation problems rose by 11 percent for every additional half hour spent standing, according to the Daily Mail.
The team found that the risk of circulation problems was significantly higher after several hours of standing. Conversely, sitting for six to ten hours slightly reduced the risk of circulation problems.
The researchers found that each additional hour of sitting beyond ten hours increased the likelihood of circulation issues by 26 percent. Moreover, remaining stationary for more than 12 hours raised the risk of cardiovascular disease by 13 percent for each hour.
Dr. Matthew Ahmadi, the lead author of the study, said, “Prolonged standing does not compensate for a sedentary lifestyle.” He added, “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 people trying to reduce their cardiovascular risk not to replace sitting with standing but to increase their physical activity.
Professor Emmanuel Stamatakis, a public health expert and co-author of the study, recommended, “Take walks, hold walking meetings, use the stairs, take regular breaks during long trips, or use lunch breaks to step away from your desk and move around.” The study was published in the International Journal of Epidemiology.
