Sitting For Long Periods of Time

Get up off your tush. People who regularly sit for long periods of time have an increased risk of a deadly blood clot in their lungs.

Too much sitting down is linked to an increased risk of pulmonary embolism — a potentially fatal blood clot that forms in the legs and gets lodged in the lungs — according to a new study. The research found that those who spent more than 41 hours a week outside of work planted on their rump were twice as likely to develop a pulmonary embolism than those who spent less than 10 hours a week outside of work on a couch or chair.

Couch potatoes were also more likely to have high blood pressure and heart disease. This isn’t the first study to point out the dangers of a highly sedentary lifestyle. A study published earlier this year in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that spending four hours a day or more in front of the TV or computer screen doubled a person’s likelihood of suffering a heart attack, stroke, heart failure or death.

Your takeaway: Even if you’re pooped after a long day at the office, blow off steam by taking a long walk before plopping down in front of the TV.