Studies show that sitting for too long is bad for your health. Most recently, researchers from the University of Sydney discovered that people who sit for more than 10 hours each day raise their risk for cardiovascular disease by 15%. (And that risk increases exponentially with each additional hour of sitting!)

Now, this is not exactly new information. For a long time now, we’ve known that a sedentary lifestyle harms your health. We’ve previously shared the fact that even four hours of daily sitting puts you at an increased risk for blood clots, as the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) explains.

Armed with that information, many people turned to standing desks as a way to save their heart health. The idea? If you have to work all day, it’s better to do so standing. That way, you’ll be less likely to reach those dangerous thresholds of hours spent sitting.

Soon, people switched to these standing desks in droves. But here’s the thing: they started developing all sorts of new health concerns, from varicose veins to foot and leg pain. So, how long can you use a standing desk before you have to worry about complications and side effects? Here’s what you need to know.

How Long Can You Use a Standing Desk?

If you spend too long standing in one spot at your desk, you increase your risk for varicose veins. But why is that the case? All that pressure on your lower legs can make it hard for your veins to pump blood up and out of your lower body. That can cause pooling blood, stretching out your veins in the area. Over time, that stretching could weaken the vein walls and valves, and varicose veins may develop.

Now you see: you can’t sit all day without harming your health. And you also can’t stand all day. So, what should you do if you want to protect your heart and your veins? Current data seems to suggest that you can safely use a standing desk for two hours at a time. After that, your risk for vein health problems will overshadow the risk of sitting still. And that’s why, in addition to standing desks, you need to incorporate movement into your day to reduce the risks of sitting all day.

How to Move More Throughout the Day without Using a Standing Desk

The science suggests that you don’t have to engage in heavy exercise to protect your heart health. Just sit less each day, even if all you do is get up and take a five-minute walk around your house. Now, if you have a bit more time, evidence suggests that getting active for 30 each day can provide a 35% reduction in your risk for premature death. A vigorous walk is always a good choice, but shorter walks throughout the day, or even buying a walking pad to keep at your desk can help you stay safe, healthy and active.

Additionally, when you’re standing or sitting for several hours a day, whether at work or on an airplane, you may wish to consider wearing compression socks. When prescribed and worn correctly, they can reduce your risk for vein disease and blood clots, by putting pressure on your leg that helps support optimal circulation. While they should not be considered a replacement for movement or cardiovascular exercise, they can help offset the effects of sitting when you don’t want to stand in one place.

So, how long can you use a standing desk? Keep your use to two hours or less in one day. And if you still have concerns about your vein or cardiovascular health, seek the support of your trusted healthcare providers. At Georgia Endovascular, our interventional radiologists are available at three locations in the greater Atlanta area to discuss your vascular health concerns. Just reach out to our team and

<a href="https://www.georgiaeva.com/locations/">request a consultation</a><br />

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