A recent study from Finland has found that standing for long periods at work may negatively affect blood pressure, while sitting more during work hours could actually help keep blood pressure healthier.
The findings suggest that what people do during work hours may matter more for 24-hour blood pressure than what they do in their free time.
Regular exercise is well known for lowering blood pressure. Aerobic and vigorous activities are especially effective, but even everyday physical movement can help. Interestingly, earlier studies have shown that exercise during leisure time is better for heart health than physical activity done at work, which may even harm the heart in some cases.
In the Finnish Retirement and Aging Study (FIREA), researchers from the University of Turku measured the physical activity of municipal workers close to retirement.
Participants wore small devices on their thighs that tracked how much they sat, stood, or moved during work hours, free time, and days off. They also wore a portable blood pressure monitor that checked their blood pressure every 30 minutes for 24 hours.
According to Doctoral Researcher Jooa Norha, 24-hour blood pressure is a more accurate way to understand how much stress the heart and blood vessels are under throughout the day and night. When blood pressure stays slightly high all day and doesn’t lower enough at night, it puts strain on the heart and blood vessels. Over time, this can lead to heart disease.
The study found that physical activity during work — especially standing for long periods — raised blood pressure. When we stand for a long time, our bodies work harder to move blood to the legs. This causes blood vessels to tighten and the heart to pump harder, which raises blood pressure.
“A standing desk can be a good way to break up long periods of sitting,” says Norha. “But standing too much isn’t good either. It’s best to switch between sitting, standing, and walking throughout the day.”
On the flip side, the study showed that sitting at work was not necessarily bad for blood pressure. However, whether you stand or sit at work, researchers emphasized that getting physical exercise during your free time is still very important.
“Being active at work is not enough,” Norha says. “Leisure-time exercise is key to keeping fit and making it easier to handle physical strain from work. Office workers who sit a lot should also make time for exercise outside of work to stay healthy.”
In summary, this study adds to growing evidence that physical activity during work may not always be beneficial for heart health. Balancing your workday with breaks from standing, combined with regular exercise during free time, seems to be the best way to support your heart and blood pressure.
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The study is published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.
