As much as I hate to throw this plot twist at you, as it turns out, standing up too much can potentially double your risk of heart disease...

It's beginning to feel like just about any mundane activity, from walking out your front door, to eating a slice of bacon, can in some way or another shorten your life. It's gotten to the point where we need to, at least somewhat ignore the threats, in an effort to maintain our sanity.

Now, we're essentially being told that we are jeopardizing our good health, simply by existing. 

As you know, there has been plenty of criticism in the past, surrounding work environments where employees sit at their desk all day. In response to this, people have tried adapting with innovations like standing desks, in an effort to avoid those negative health effects. 

Well, it's back to the drawing board again because apparently, standing up will kill you as well.  

[anad]

In a recent study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, researchers studied 7,000 workers in Ontario, over a span of 12 years. A number of different groups were incorporated; workers who mostly stand, mostly sit, alternate between the two, or are working in other positions other than sitting or standing.

As it turns out, the studies show that people who mostly stand for prolonged periods of time are TWICE as likely to develop heart disease than those who mostly sit. Crazy right? Even crazier, the incidents of heart disease in the people who mostly stood, was shockingly similar to that of the people who smoked every day...

And why is this? Prolonged standing can lead to too much blood rushing down to the legs, causing too much pressure in the veins, which ultimately contributes to the increased risk of heart disease. 

While we're sure you've already come to this conclusion yourself, the best way to try and avoid ALL of the negative health effects of either sitting or standing, is to do your best at creating an even balance between the two in your daily routine.

At least that's what we'll go with for now! 

[via ReadWrite] [via gothamist]