Take brisk walk every 30 minutes to reduce risk of heart disease

The study found that people who spend increasing time sitting are at an increased risk of serious health problems like cardiovascular disease, diabetes or death from all causes.

Image for representational purpose only

Wellington: One should not sit for long hours because it may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Researchers have said that getting up and taking brisk walks for two minutes every half an hour may lower the level of fatty acids that lead to clogged arteries.

The finding found that people who spend increasing time sitting are at an increased risk of serious health problems like cardiovascular disease, diabetes or death from all causes.

On the other hand, short regular walking breaks, 30 minutes of continuous physical activity, and especially the two combined, could potentially improve people's metabolic health, the researchers noted.

Lead author Meredith Peddie from the University of Otago in New Zealand said,"We believe there is an important health message here -- the traditional half-hour block of moderate to vigorous activity is important, but so is limiting long periods of sitting by undertaking regular short bouts of activity throughout the day."

Previous studies have established that office workers taking brisk walks for two minutes every half hour lower their blood glucose and insulin levels.

Peddie added,"This approach, if maintained over months or years, may be enough to explain why individuals who regularly break up sedentary time have better cardio-metabolic health outcomes."

The study was paper published in the Journal of Clinical Lipidology.  

(With IANS inputs)