You’ve probably heard that using a standing desk has health benefits, but did you know that keeping your heart healthy is one of them? Many scientific studies suggest that the longer we sit, the more damage we do to our bodies. One of the most disappointing findings of these studies is that a few trips to the gym doesn’t make up for the negative effects of sitting.
When you’re sitting, you’re usually fairly still, and it’s the lack of movement that causes problems over time. Sitting impedes proper circulation and can also lead to reduced mobility, flexibility, and even muscle loss . When you consider that office workers sit for most of their 8-hour workday, then sit in a car, bus, or train for a commute—and then sit in the evenings while browsing the internet or watching television, that adds up to a lot of sedentary hours each day.
The Mayo Clinic indicates that those who sit for four hours a day or more increase the risk of a cardiovascular event like chest pain or heart attack by about 125 percent . And the Center for Disease Control says that one in every four deaths in the United States is related to heart disease. They estimate that adds up to about 610,000 people every year.
Statistics like that are a pretty convincing statistic to rise up and get moving! Most of us don’t get enough exercise during the day, and physical activity is key to helping keep your heart healthy. One way you can start incorporating more movement into your day is by using an electric standing desk. With an electric sit/stand desk, you won’t have to lift or crank to adjust the height of the desk surface, and you’ll be able to use the same desk while you’re sitting or standing.
You don’t have to try to stand up while you work all day; instead, try switching between sitting and standing while working. Use your electric standing desk to slowly begin increasing the time you spend standing while working to increase your standing time. Splitting your day into half sitting and half standing is a good goal, but that doesn’t mean you have to stand for 4 hours before you can sit for 4 hours. Once you’ve reached the half and half goal, you can switch between standing and sitting as often as you need to.
You’re sure to work more movement into your day when you work at an electric sit/stand desk—some people notice that they’re more likely to walk around more if they’re already standing. That definitely adds up to more movement throughout the day. By increasing your physical activity, you might even find that your blood pressure or cholesterol levels become lower as well!