Standing desks are a wellness trend, but what about standing desks and blood pressure, a key indicator of a person’s health status? High blood pressure puts you at risk of heart attacks and strokes, so it’s one of those things you want to try to control via diet, exercise, and if need be, medication. Given that we are a sedentary society and a lot of people sit long hours behind a computer, a standing desk seems like a healthy intervention. Yet recent research shows that it could make blood pressure issues worse-a find that goes against intuition, which is why we are discussing it on the podcast.
On a recent episode of Causes or Cures (the first one posted in 2025!) I chatted with Dr. Bethany Barone Gibbs about her recent study on standing desks and their surprising effects on blood pressure, a key indicator of health. Dr. Gibbs explains how the study was conducted, what the outcome measures revealed, the unexpected findings, and her recommendations for the broader public. Plus, you all heard the phrase, “sitting is the new smoking,” but is it??? Towards the end of the episode, she shares her expert take on whether “sitting is the new smoking” holds up to scientific scrutiny.
Dr. Bethany Gibbs is the chair and professor of the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at West Virginia University School of Public Health. Her research focuses on cardiovascular and physical activity epidemiology, as well as lifestyle interventions to prevent heart disease. Learn more about her work here.
Soooo, before you fully commit to a standing desk, tune in to hear what the science really says about the workplace wellness trend! Tune in here!
Or watch on my Youtube channel here:
Also, if you haven’t yet, check out this podcast with Alan Lightman on Science vs Religion and if there’s room for magic. I think you’ll really dig the conversation.
Another recent one to check out especially if you eat mushrooms: Ergothioneine: The Nutrient You Probably Never Heard of but need!
Thanks for reading! :)
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Eeks
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