Doctor Warns 10,000 Steps May Not Offset Risks of Prolonged Sitting
New Delhi: A vascular surgeon is raising awareness about the hidden health risks of extended periods of sitting, explaining that achieving a daily step goal – even 10,000 steps - doesn’t necessarily counteract the damage caused by remaining desk-bound for hours.
Dr. Sumit Kapadia,a varicose vein specialist,detailed in a recent Instagram post that the body doesn’t function in a way that allows evening exercise to fully reverse the negative effects of a sedentary workday. He emphasized that spending approximately 10 hours seated, such as from 9 am to 7 pm, can already inflict harm on circulation, nonetheless of later activity.
“You can hit your step goal in the evening…but if you’ve been desk-bound from 9 AM to 7 PM, your veins have already taken the damage,” Dr. Kapadia wrote.
He clarified that vein health is more dependent on frequency of movement throughout the day then total distance walked. Prolonged sitting leads to blood stagnation,weakening of vein valves,swelling,and increased risk of varicose veins and blood clots. “Circulation doesn’t depend on how much you walk. It depends on how often you move,” he stated.
Dr. Kapadia recommends breaking up long periods of sitting by standing up hourly, stretching, taking brief walks, and actively engaging calf muscles – which he refers to as the body’s “peripheral heart” due to their crucial role in blood flow.
“Tiny breaks. Huge difference. Your veins don’t need marathons. They need movement,” he advised.
The post has sparked conversation online, with users sharing their own experiences with the consequences of prolonged sitting, including hip and back pain, and difficulty with prolonged standing.