{"id":12589,"date":"2025-04-07T08:40:40","date_gmt":"2025-04-07T12:40:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/afcomunicacion.com\/uncategorized\/a-sedentary-lifestyle-a-hidden-risk-with-serious-effects-on-heart-health\/"},"modified":"2026-09-22T18:07:41","modified_gmt":"2026-09-22T22:07:41","slug":"a-sedentary-lifestyle-a-hidden-risk-with-serious-effects-on-heart-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/afcomunicacion.com\/en\/press-room\/a-sedentary-lifestyle-a-hidden-risk-with-serious-effects-on-heart-health\/","title":{"rendered":"A sedentary lifestyle: a hidden risk with serious effects on heart health"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

People who spend more than 10 hours a day being sedentary are at greater risk of heart conditions such as atrial fibrillation, heart failure, myocardial infarction and CV death.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the modern era, where technology, working patterns, new entertainment habits and comfort have led us to spend long hours sitting, whether at the office, in the car or at home, a sedentary lifestyle has become a silent enemy with serious effects on our health.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But what is a sedentary lifestyle and what are its consequences? It is a way of life characterised by a lack of regular physical activity and a predominance of activities that involve sitting or lying down for long periods. Moving less than the body needs may seem harmless, but its long-term consequences are alarming. Beyond putting on a few extra pounds, a sedentary lifestyle raises the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and muscle disorders, and even affects our mental health. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Although the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise a week to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, the guidelines do not clearly specify how inactivity directly affects heart health. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A new Mass General Brigham study indicates that more than 10.6 hours of sedentary time a day increases the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF), myocardial infarction, heart failure and cardiovascular death. The study, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology<\/em>, found that this is the case even for people who also do the recommended amount of exercise each week. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Many people spend several hours a day being sedentary. We wanted to understand whether exercise can cancel out the effects of this behaviour,”<\/em> says Shaan Khurshid, MD, MPH<\/a>, a Mass General Brigham cardiac electrophysiologist who sees patients at Massachusetts General Hospital. “Overall, our findings indicate that avoiding excessive sedentary behaviour is important for cardiovascular benefit, whether or not you are physically active.”<\/em>  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How much time do people spend being sedentary on average? <\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the Dominican Republic, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death. According to the WHO, more than 35% of deaths in the country are attributable to cardiovascular disease. According to the Dominican Ministry of Public Health, 70% of the adult population does not exercise regularly, which puts the population at high risk of heart disease. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Khurshid recently completed a study of almost 90,000 people who wore activity trackers on their wrists for a week. The researchers collected data on the time and intensity of exercise, as well as on sedentary time. Sedentary time was defined as all the waking time a person spends sitting, reclining or lying down, involving low energy expenditure. Sleeping and standing were not counted as sedentary time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Average sedentary time was 9.4 hours a day. The researchers divided participants into 4 equal groups: <\/p>\n\n\n\n