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Hourly 5-minute walks 'reverse arterial damage caused by sitting'
The harm to leg arteries caused by sitting for hours can be easily reversed with hourly 5-minute walks, according to new research published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, the official journal of the American College of Sports Medicine.
Sitting for prolonged periods is associated with risk factors for cardiovascular and metabolic disease, such as higher cholesterol levels and greater waist circumference. Because muscles are slackened when sitting, they do not contribute to pumping blood to the heart. This causes blood to pool in the legs, damaging the endothelial function of arteries and impairing blood vessels' ability to expand.
{snip}
The researchers found that, while sitting, the dilation and expansion of the participants' arteries were impaired by up to 50% after just the first hour.
However, there was no decrease in arterial function among the participants who walked for 5 minutes each hour. The researchers think this is because the increase in muscle activity aided blood flow.
Americans sit for 8 hours a day, on average
"American adults sit for approximately 8 hours a day," says study leader Saurabh Thosar, a postdoctoral researcher at Oregon Health & Science University. "The impairment in endothelial function is significant after just 1 hour of sitting. It is interesting to see that light physical activity can help in preventing this impairment."
read the rest: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/282194.php#.VA54pYtN6
Sitting for prolonged periods is associated with risk factors for cardiovascular and metabolic disease, such as higher cholesterol levels and greater waist circumference. Because muscles are slackened when sitting, they do not contribute to pumping blood to the heart. This causes blood to pool in the legs, damaging the endothelial function of arteries and impairing blood vessels' ability to expand.
{snip}
The researchers found that, while sitting, the dilation and expansion of the participants' arteries were impaired by up to 50% after just the first hour.
However, there was no decrease in arterial function among the participants who walked for 5 minutes each hour. The researchers think this is because the increase in muscle activity aided blood flow.
Americans sit for 8 hours a day, on average
"American adults sit for approximately 8 hours a day," says study leader Saurabh Thosar, a postdoctoral researcher at Oregon Health & Science University. "The impairment in endothelial function is significant after just 1 hour of sitting. It is interesting to see that light physical activity can help in preventing this impairment."
read the rest: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/282194.php#.VA54pYtN6
I think I'm going to go for a little walk...
8 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
just to restock snacks from the refrigerator for the next hour of "couch" time. 
encouraged (if not demanded)....
Kegels! 
