Sitting, Diabetes, and CAC

Are you sitting more than is good for you? Researchers from the Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, led by Jacquelyn Kulinski, MD, cardiologist, and colleagues the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, examined data from 2031 participants in the Dallas Heart Study ages 20 to 76. They found that:

·                 Sitting for too long doubles the risk of diabetes.

·                 Each hour of sedentary time was associated with a 10% increase of having coronary artery calcification as seen on CT imaging.

·                 Each added hour spent sitting was associated with a 14% increase in coronary artery calcium (CAC) score.

This seems to suggest that the health consequences of being too sedentary may differ from those of not getting enough physical exercise. That may speak to the potential benefit of having the option of a ‘standing desk’ at which to do at least portions of one’s computer work. According to Kuilinski, reducing one's daily sitting time by even 1 or 2 hours potentially could have a significant, positive impact on future cardiovascular health.   http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/841248.