Sitting less may help lower blood pressure
Research we're watching
- Reviewed by Christopher P. Cannon, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Heart Letter; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
Older adults might be able to lower their blood pressure by reducing their sitting time by as little as 30 minutes per day, a new study finds.
The study included 283 adults ages 60 to 89 who had a body mass index between 30 and 50. About half received a standing desk and activity tracker, plus 10 health coaching sessions focused on setting goals to reduce sitting time. The other participants received 10 coaching sessions focused on general health unrelated to activity.
After six months, people in the first group reduced their sitting time by nearly 32 minutes per day, on average. Their systolic blood pressure (the first number in a reading) dropped by an average of 3.5 points. That's nearly as good as the 4-point drop observed in studies examining physical activity as a way to lower blood pressure.
Older adults typically sit 65% to 80% of the time they're awake. For those with obesity or other chronic health conditions, sitting less and standing more may be an effective, feasible way to reduce their risk of heart disease. The study was published online March 27, 2024, by JAMA Network Open.
Image: © miniseries/Getty Images
About the Author
Julie Corliss, Executive Editor, Harvard Heart Letter
About the Reviewer
Christopher P. Cannon, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Heart Letter; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
Disclaimer:
As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
