Thursday, January 13, 2011
Prolonged Sitting- Bad for the Heart
Prolonged sitting is bad for your heart
Do you spend more than two hours a day in front of a computer screen, TV or video game box? Then you have a higher risk of heart disease, say researchers.
Prolonged sitting - what some term 'recreational sitting" - is especially harmful to the health of your heart.
Scientists at University College London examined data from 4,512 adults. Screen time was defined as watching TV or DVDs, video gaming and leisure-time computer use. It did not take into account time spent sitting in front of a screen at work. The participants were asked if they have any cardiovascular problems.
People who spent four or more hours a day on non-work screen time had a 48percent increased risk of death from any cause and a 125 per cent increased risk of heart problems, compared to people who spent less than two hours a day on screen-based entertainment.
'It is all a matter of habit," said researcher Emmanuel Stamatakis, the lead author of the study. 'Many of us go back home, turn the TV set on and sit down for several hours. It's convenient and easy to do but it is bad for the heart and our health in general."
Researchers will now try to find out what prolonged sitting does to the body to increase the risk of heart disease. For example, preliminary research shows cholesterol levels may be affected according to whether people are sitting, standing or moving.
The study is published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Los Angeles Times
Compliments to Mind Your Body
Labels: bad for heart, heart, prolong sitting
