How fidgeting could help prevent fatal heart attack

IF you are one of those people who can’t keep still, take comfort – scientists reckon fidgeting is good for you.

They’ve shown that even something as simple as tapping your toes while sitting at your desk can keep blood flowing in the legs.

This, in turn, keeps the arteries healthy, significantly reducing the odds of symptoms ranging from aches and pains to potentially fatal infections.

It can even cut your chances of a fatal heart attack.

Researcher Jaume Padilla said: ‘Many of us sit for hours at a time, whether it’s binge-watching our favourite TV show or working at a computer.

‘While we expected fidgeting to increase blood flow to the lower limbs, we were quite surprised to find this would be sufficient to prevent a decline in arterial function.’

Dr Padilla, of the University of Missouri in the US, studied 11 healthy young men and women who were asked to tap one foot for one minute, rest for four minutes and then fidget again. The second leg remained still throughout.

Tests showed that blood flow increased in the fidgeting leg, while falling in the stationary one.

Crucially, the increase was enough to boost arterial health. Poor blood flow in the legs raises the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Writing in the American Journal of Physiology, the researchers said: ‘You should attempt to break up sitting time as much as possible by standing or walking.

‘But if you are stuck in a situation in which walking just isn’t an option, fidgeting can be a good alternative.’

Maureen Talbot, of the British Heart Foundation, said: ‘Small changes can be made to help keep active on a day-to-day basis.

‘If you work in an office, go and talk to colleagues rather than sending an email, and while watching the TV, get up in the ad break and make a cup of tea.’