Spending more than four hours of free time sitting each day has been linked to an increased risk of heart attack, according to researchers whose findings were published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition.
The scientists analyzed data from 475,874 people who had no history of heart attack at the start of the observation period. They tracked the amount of time participants spent in sedentary leisure activity, sleeping and physical exercise, then compared those figures with the frequency of myocardial infarction and its two main types, known as STEMI and NSTEMI.
What the data showed
The analysis found that people who sat for more than four hours of free time per day had a higher risk of heart attack and of both its subtypes, even after accounting for other factors. Greater amounts of physical activity and sleep were linked to a lower risk.
The researchers found this pattern held even with comparatively small differences in daily routine, ranging from 15 to 30 minutes. Depending on the duration and type of activity, the estimated reduction in risk ranged from about 1 to 6 percent.
Background on the research
Myocardial infarction, commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow to part of the heart muscle is blocked. STEMI and NSTEMI are the two main classifications of the condition, distinguished by the pattern they produce on an electrocardiogram and by the severity of the blockage involved. Frontiers in Nutrition is a peer-reviewed scientific journal that publishes research on diet, nutrition and related health outcomes.
The study's authors said the results point to the potential benefit of reducing long periods of sitting and increasing daily physical activity. However, they cautioned that the study was observational, meaning it does not prove that replacing a specific amount of sitting time with movement would, on its own, prevent the disease.
Earlier findings
Researchers have previously reported that xanthelasmas, small yellowish deposits that can appear on the eyelids, may serve as a warning sign of an impending heart attack.
