Sitting all day makes your heart sick – cardiologist

Heart and cardiovascular diseases are among the biggest killers, causing about a quarter of all deaths each year. Of these, the most common type is coronary heart disease, which occurs when the arteries become narrowed due to a buildup of fatty substances along their walls. If left untreated, it can have devastating effects on the body.

There are a number of factors that can increase the risk of heart disease, including an unhealthy diet, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption and high cholesterol. Not enough exercise can also contribute to this.

Exercise is a key habit to form and continue throughout your life to reduce your risk of heart disease. Exercise that is good for heart health can be in the form of high-intensity activity, where your heart beats fast and you're out of breath so you can't hold a conversation, or in the form of moderate-intensity activity, where you can feel your heart, but you can still maintain a conversation.

Either two hours of vigorous activity a week or 30 minutes of moderate activity five days a week is recommended.

He also expressed concern that , that you spend too much time sitting, which is common if you work at a desk. However, according to the doctor, just two or three breaks away from the desk a day can reduce the risk of heart disease.

Modern life means that we lead far more sedentary lifestyles than we should be. Many people have jobs that involve sitting for long periods of time, especially computer-based roles.