Australian study finds higher risk of circulatory issues linked to prolonged standing

Sydney: An Australian study has found that spending more time standing, as opposed to sitting, does not benefit cardiovascular health and may increase the risk of certain circulatory issues. Researchers from the University of Sydney analyzed data from 83,013 adults in Britain who wore research-grade wrist devices to track their movement. The study, published on Thursday, revealed that standing more did not reduce the likelihood of cardiovascular events such as heart failure, coronary heart disease, or stroke. Instead, it was associated with a higher risk of circulatory problems linked to prolonged standing, such as varicose veins and deep vein thrombosis.

The research challenges the common belief that standing for long periods can offset the negative health effects of a sedentary lifestyle. Lead author Matthew Ahmadi, from the Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of Sydney, emphasized that standing for extended periods does not improve cardiovascular health over the long term. "Our findings show that standing more will not compensate for an otherwise inactive lifestyle and could even pose a risk for circulatory health," Ahmadi explained.

The researchers noted that while prolonged standing may be harmful, excessive sitting is also detrimental. Sitting for more than 10 hours per day was found to increase the risk of both cardiovascular disease and circulatory problems. The study recommends that individuals who spend long periods either sitting or standing should incorporate regular movement throughout the day to reduce health risks.

In contrast, previous research by Ahmadi and his co-author Emmanuel Stamatakis, published in July, highlighted the benefits of physical activity in reducing heart disease risk. That study found that as little as six minutes of vigorous exercise or 30 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous exercise daily could significantly lower the risk of heart disease, even in individuals who were sedentary for more than 11 hours a day.

The new findings suggest that balancing periods of standing and sitting with regular movement and physical activity is key to maintaining good circulatory health. While sitting for prolonged periods increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, standing for extended periods does not offer a protective effect and may increase the risk of conditions like varicose veins and deep vein thrombosis.

The researchers concluded that to protect cardiovascular health and prevent circulatory problems, people should focus on regular movement rather than relying solely on standing to mitigate the effects of a sedentary lifestyle.