Improving cardiovascular health for those who need it most

Key points

• Desk-based employees who sit for long periods of time at work can lower their blood pressure and improve their vascular function by using an e-health intervention that prompts them to stand and move periodically throughout the workday.
• The reduction in blood pressure was more evident among those who had higher baseline blood pressure and lower baseline physical activity, suggesting that light intensity physical activity movement breaks can be especially helpful for those who need it most.
• This simple and low-cost workplace health intervention can significantly reduce the risk of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases.

Our relevant work

• The effect of an e-health intervention designed to reduce prolonged occupational sitting on mean arterial pressure
• Blood pressure response to interrupting workplace sitting time with non-exercise physical activity: Results of a 12-month cohort study
• Using an e-health intervention to reduce prolonged sitting in UK office workers: A randomised acceptability and feasibility study