About 89 thousand men and women took part in the study, the average age of which was 62 years. During the week, participants wore devices on their wrists that recorded their physical activity. Over the next eight years, the researchers observed changes in the health status of the subjects.

The results showed that during this period, 4.9% of the participants developed atrial fibrillation, and 2.1% developed heart failure. Another 1.84% suffered a severe myocardial infarction, and 0.94% died from cardiovascular diseases, writes gazeta.ru.

Dr. Charles Eaton, co-author of the study and director of the Department of Family Medicine at Brown University, stressed that replacing just 30 minutes of "sedentary" time with moderate physical activity can significantly reduce health risks. In particular, the probability of heart failure is reduced by 15%, and the risk of death from cardiovascular diseases is reduced by 10%.

The researchers also warn that even regular exercise for the recommended 150 minutes per week is not able to completely neutralize the harm of prolonged sitting. It is important not only to engage in physical activity, but also to reduce the total time spent in immobility. Scientists advise not to exceed the threshold of 10.5 hours of sitting per day to minimize the risks to the heart.