Move at work!

Sitting most of the day is fattening, bad for the spine, hinders circulation, gives varicose veins and can complicate heart health. The tip is to get up from the chair every 40 minutes to go to the water cooler (avoid leaving the bottle on the table) and drink at least 100 milliliters of water. With this, you dilute the blood and reduce the risk of thrombus formation (blood clots in the bloodstream). Go to the bathroom whenever you feel like it. This way, you avoid holding the pee for a long time, which increases your heart rate and blood pressure and stresses the cardiovascular system. You can also take the opportunity to stretch your legs and stimulate circulation: “Standing, raise and lower the heel, leaning on your fingertips to stimulate the calf muscles and improve the return of blood to the heart. Repeat for 30 seconds on each side, morning and afternoon, ”suggests cardiologist Janieire Alves, from the Cardiovascular Rehabilitation and Exercise Physiology Unit of the Instituto do Coração of the Hospital das Clínicas of FMUSP (Incor).