How To Avoid A Heart Attack: Sit Less and Smile More

13:56

May 10, 2012

Alan Sparrow demonstrates a Treadmill Desk in Salt Lake City. It turns out that standing at your desk can help prevent heart attacks. (AP)

Heart disease is the leading killer of men and women. But if you're exercising like crazy to lower your risk, it might not matter much if you then go sit in an office.

In fact, people who don't exercise, but move around more during the day, can burn more calories than those who run 35 miles a week but work a desk job (and then maybe watch some TV on the couch).

Mayo Clinic cardiologist Martha Grogan says sitting for more than four hours a day gives you the same risk of a heart attack as smoking.

Other risk factors include smoking, obesity, high cholesterol and even anger.

Guest:

Ron Winslow, deputy bureau chief and senior writer for health and science at the Wall Street Journal

This segment aired on May 10, 2012.