Why you are probably sitting down for too long

Why you are probably sitting down for too long Getty Images Sitting down for prolonged periods can have a profound effect on our health In the office, on transport, at home…Sitting down is ingrained in most peoples' days. Getty Images Research suggests that breaking up periods of sitting down with exercise can help to undo some of the negative health effects Why does sedentary behaviour increase risk of cardiovascular disease? Researchers suggest that 120-180 minutes of prolonged sitting is the threshold of too long spent seated Normal blood flow provides friction, known as arterial shear stress, against the endothelial cells which line the walls of blood vessels. WATCH: Why the Dutch are champion sitters Dunstan, who specialises in researching type 2 diabetes, also notes that sedentary behaviour increases post-meal, or post-prandial, rises in blood glucose and insulin. Getty Images Some researchers believe we need more social factors to make it easier for people to break up the time they spend sitting Other interventions include height-adjustable workstations, sit/stand chairs, treadmill workstations, and fidgeting the legs which enhances blood flow.