Too Much Sitting Can Hurt Your Heart

Original Article: https://www.medscape.com/s/viewarticle/1002391

What the Study Looked At

Researchers studied almost 90,000 middle-aged and older adults in the UK over a period of nearly 10 years. Everyone in the study wore a wrist device (an accelerometer) that tracked how much they moved during a week. The scientists wanted to see if there was a link between how much time people spent sitting (called sedentary behavior) and their chances of developing heart-related problems such as atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat), heart attacks, heart failure, and death from cardiovascular (heart) disease. They also looked at whether regular physical activity could reduce the risks of these serious conditions.

Key Findings: 10.6 Hours Is the Danger Zone

On average, people sat for about 9.4 hours per day. But those who sat more than 10.6 hours daily had significantly higher risks of heart failure and dying from heart disease—even if they exercised the recommended amount each week (150 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity). People who sat the most had about a 45% higher chance of heart failure and over 60% higher chance of dying from heart problems compared to those who sat less. Even though being physically active helped, it wasn’t enough to completely cancel out the risks of too much sitting.

Why It Matters

This study shows that how long you sit each day matters for your heart health, not just how much you exercise. While it’s still very important to be active, that alone might not be enough if you spend most of your day sitting. Cutting down sitting time—even by just 30 minutes per day—can lower your risk of serious heart problems. Public health experts may want to start giving clearer advice about not just moving more, but sitting less, especially for people who sit for more than 10.6 hours each day.