It’s been more than 40 years since the first anti-smoking campaigns got underway, with studies clearly showing that the habit can lead to diseases like lung cancer. Along the way, research also showed the connection between smoking and heart disease.
In recent years, a new campaign has gotten underway to promote another bad habit that could lead to premature death. Unfortunately, it’s a habit that’s shared by millions of Americans — sitting. Whether you’re sitting behind a desk, in front of the television, or anywhere else, the simple act of sitting for hours on end could be shaving years off your life, according to research.
Numerous media outlets, including CNN, have been reporting on the deadly effects of sitting. According to a study published by the American Heart Association, people who don’t move enough and sit for five hours or more each day have double the risk of heart failure. And other studies show that the vast majority of Americans are sitting anywhere from 7 hours to 15 hours a day.
Take the test by JustStand.org to see how you measure up. Are you sitting way too much? Then it’s time for a change.
So, how do you get moving for better heart health? Try to break up your days of sitting by following these ten tips.
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