Warning as standing at your desk to work could be really bad for your health

Standing desks do not compensate for being inactive and may increase the risk of developing conditions such as swollen veins and in the legs, a new study has revealed.

The office alternative has gained traction as a supposed countermeasure for the downsides of sedentary work lives. However, an extensive UK study involving over 80,000 adults shows standing at your desk does not off reduce diseases such as and heart failure.

The study indicates that extensive periods spent on one's feet, over two hours daily, might actually increase the chances of developing the - blood clots that form deep in one's veins - and varicose veins, which are swollen, twisted veins just beneath the surface of the skin.

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Publishing their findings in the International Journal of Epidemiology, the researchers advocate incorporating regular moments of movement for those who either sit or stand extensively throughout the day.

Lead researcher Dr Matthew Ahmadi from the University of Sydney's Faculty of Medicine and Health, based in , remarked: "The key takeaway is that standing for too long will not offset an otherwise sedentary lifestyle and could be risky for some people in terms of circulatory health. We found that standing more does not improve cardiovascular health over the long-term and increases the risk of circulatory issues."

Dr Ahmadi and his team have previously discovered that a vigorous six-minute daily workout can help reduce the risk of heart disease, even for those who sit for over 11 hours a day. In an attempt to understand if standing offers any health benefits, the researchers analysed data from 83,013 adults who are part of the UK Biobank, a database containing health and lifestyle records of more than half-a-million Brits.

These individuals did not have heart disease at the beginning of the study and wore devices on their wrists to monitor movement. The research team found that for every additional 30 minutes spent standing beyond two hours, the risk of circulatory disease rose by 11%.

The researchers noted that standing was not found to decrease the risk of heart conditions such as stroke, heart failure and coronary heart disease (where the heart's arteries are narrowed or blocked). On the other hand, when sitting time exceeded 12 hours a day, it was linked with a 15% increase in heart disease risk for each extra hour of sitting, according to the findings.

Professor Emmanuel Stamatakis, director of the Mackenzie Wearables Research Hub at the University of Sydney, advised: "For people who sit for long periods on a regular basis, including plenty of incidental movement throughout the day and structured exercise may be a better way to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease."

"Take regular breaks, walk around, go for a walking meeting, use the stairs, take regular breaks when driving long distances, or use that lunch hour to get away from the desk and do some movement."

Emily McGrath, senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, who was not involved in the study, commented: "This research emphasises the importance of getting up and active during the day. The more people can avoid being stationary, the better."

"Over the long-term, the study showed that standing time was not associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, however it did have other circulatory health implications for some. It is important to get active to reduce this risk."

"Aim for 150 minutes of moderate activity, like brisk walking, cycling or swimming, per week to reduce your risk of heart and circulatory disease." This will help manage your weight, promote better sleep, boost energy, reduce your stress and lower your and cholesterol levels."