Heart attack: behavior associated with a 50% increased risk

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A heart attack occurs when a sudden blockage prevents blood from reaching a vital organ. This can immediately cause a sharp pain in the chest that sometimes radiates to the jaw and down the arms. Smoking is a notorious risk factor for this disease. Sitting for long periods of time can be almost as bad, according to a new study.

Sitting and a sedentary lifestyle are dangerous for the heart. Habitual inactivity is a predictor of several chronic diseases, including obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, deep vein thrombosis and metabolic syndrome.

For example, participants in a new study who sat for six to eight hours a day had 12-13% higher risk of premature death or heart disease. For those who sat for more than eight hours a day, the risk increased to 20 percent.

The study also added to the body of evidence that a sedentary lifestyle leads to higher rates of heart disease.

“The main the message here is to minimize how much you sit. If you have to sit, more exercise at other times offsets this risk. For those who sit more than four hours a day, replacing half an hour of sitting with exercise reduces the risk by two percent.”