Sydney researchers tracked 83,013 adults for seven years. A popular office fix did nothing for their hearts and was linked to more leg vein trouble.
The one thing
Don't count on a standing desk. Break up sitting by walking instead.
Standing still lets blood pool in your leg veins, much like sitting. Walking squeezes the leg muscles, which pushes blood back up toward the heart.
Do it today
- If you use a standing desk, don't stand still for hours. Risk of vein problems rose past about 2 hours of standing a day.
- Get up and walk every so often: take the stairs, walk to talk with a coworker, or hold a walking meeting.
- Leave your desk at lunch. Aim for 30 minutes of brisk movement a day, all at once or in pieces.
What the study found
More standing was not linked to lower risk of heart disease, stroke, or heart failure. Past 2 hours a day, each extra 30 minutes of standing was linked to 11% higher risk of circulation problems such as varicose veins and deep vein clots. Past 10 hours a day, each extra hour of sitting was linked to 15% higher risk of heart disease, stroke, or heart failure.
- Who
- 83,013 UK adults without heart disease, average age 61, who wore a research-grade wrist tracker.
- Type of study
- Observational study using UK Biobank data, followed for about 7 years. Led by the University of Sydney.
- Keep in mind
- Observational: it shows links, not cause. Trackers measured standing over one week only, and people who stand a lot may differ in other ways, such as jobs on their feet.
Check first: If you already have varicose veins or have had a blood clot, ask your doctor about compression socks and how long to stand.
Source: Ahmadi et al., International Journal of Epidemiology, 2024
Educational information, not medical advice. Read our medical disclaimer.