Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sonia Gandhi (79) has been admitted to Medanta Hospital in Gurugram, sources reported. It added that she has been admitted for a minor medical procedure. The hospital authorities have not released any details about the leader’s health status or the treatment/
The Supreme Court has halted a Madras High Court decision that barred TVK MLA R Sreenivasa Sethupathi from a floor test. The apex court found the high court's action unusual. Sethupathi had narrowly won his seat against a DMK leader. The Tamil Nadu government subsequently won its vote of confidence
The U.S. Senate Banking Committee late on Monday unveiled the text of a long-awaited, landmark bill that would create a regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies ahead of a scheduled committee vote to advance the bill on Thursday. Dubbed the Clarity Act
Pati Patni Aur Woh Do Movie Review: A chaotic caper. One pati. One patni. Two women for anti-climactic reasons. A garrulous aunt. A couple of characters that don’t make sense. Some jokes that land. Some mentions of homophobia, casteism and a social message about how rumours often get perceived as
Indian women's hockey team to tour Australia ahead of Nations Cup in NZIndian women's hockey team to tour Australia ahead of Nations Cup in NZ Published on: May 13, 2026 12:15 PM IST PTI Share via Copy link New Delhi, The Indian women's hockey team will tour Australia for a four-match series from
Long Hours On The Couch: Why Your Heart Pays The Price For Streaming Binges
Long Hours On The Couch: Why Your Heart Pays The Price For Streaming Binges
The way we consume entertainment is not always good. Though the entertainment relaxes the mind and refreshes a person, the habit of sitting for hours and binge-streaming through various platforms without even realizing how much time have been passed seems very harmless, but leads to serious medical concerns. According to WHO, the highest rates of physical inactivity were observed in the high-income Asia Pacific region (48%), and people who are insufficiently active have a 20% to 30% increased risk of death compared to people who are sufficiently active. In recent years, sedentary behaviour has emerged as a major, independent risk factor for cardiovascular problems and, in several cases, even death.
Dr Brajesh Kumar Mishra, HOD & Consultant – Cardiology, Manipal Hospital, Gurugram shares all you need to know:
What are the risks of sitting too long?
Sitting for hours on a single couch might seem relaxing, but it has many silent risks involved. It can concern your heart, blood sugar, and overall health.
1. Increased Risk of Blood Clots
When you remain seated for extended periods, your muscles, particularly in the legs, are inactive, which slows blood circulation, allowing it to pool in the lower body and can increase the risk of blood clots and place unnecessary stress on the veins and heart over time.
2. More Than Just Weight Gain
The biggest danger of long couch time is not just weight gain. Even individuals who are not obese can experience cardiovascular harm from physical inactivity. Inactivity affects the body's metabolism, causing insulin resistance and destruction. Inflammation levels can also increase, contributing to stiffness of the arteries and chronic heart stress.
3. Blood Pressure, Sugar, and Cholesterol
Sitting for longer periods is directly linked to problems like higher blood pressure, increased cholesterol levels, and poor blood sugar control. All these three conditions, or the “silent trio," conspire to harm arteries, make blood vessels stiffer, and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. For most individuals, the problem is not only sitting but also consuming high-calorie snacks or binge eating, which further increases stress on the cardiovascular system.
What are the practical Ways to Protect Your Heart?
The good news is that protecting your cardiovascular health is not at all a difficult option and doesn't mean giving up your favourite shows. What matters is taking some small measures so that you can enjoy them along with a healthy body.
• Incorporate Light Activity: Small and easy activities such as using resistance bands, practicing gentle yoga, or walking in place can keep blood flowing while you watch. These can also be done in your own house.
• Stay Mindful about Snacks: Opt for water, fruits, nuts, or other healthier options rather than junk or packaged processed foods that are unhealthy and are not easy to digest.
• Create Activity Goals: Standing, stretching, or walking around every 30–60 minutes is necessary for the overall movement of the body. Also, aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity each week, such as brisk walking or cycling, to keep the body active and healthy.
• Therapy Options: Therapies like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) help people identify and modify unhelpful thoughts such as ‘just one more episode' and automatic behaviours that maintain binge watching and longer sitting.
• Treatment Options: Any person not feeling well should get their check-up done by the doctor as early as possible. If severe cases of coronary heart disease are detected, surgeries like Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) can be used to reroute blood flow around blocked or narrowed coronary arteries to treat the condition.
Although technology and modern lifestyles have led to extended sitting periods that are almost inevitable, they contribute to disturbing glucose control, raising blood pressure levels, and worsening cholesterol profiles, which leads to the rise of cardiovascular problems. The solution is not about extreme fitness routines but returning movement to daily life. Always remember, your chair should not be your most deadly habit.
Source: News18
Related Posts: Meta posts stronger-than-expected Q4 results though costs continue to soar Americans love their iPhones (though sometimes they wish they could live without them) 5 Drinks To Consume This Summer That Prevent Dehydration Better Than Water 5 Ways To Consume Sweet Potato This Winter For Maximum Health Benefits Women in MP drink alcohol and consume drugs more than anywhere in country Zee Entertainment inks three-year media rights deal with Uttar Pradesh Kabaddi League Top 10 feature-packed tablets under ₹45000 for work and entertainment Latest smart TVs are reinventing home entertainment Legends League Cricket sold to Blue God Entertainment for Rs 49 crore
IPL 2026: Sunrisers Hyderabad captain Pat Cummins faced a penalty of INR 12 lakh. This fine was imposed for maintaining a slow over rate during their IPL match against Gujarat Titans. The Sunrisers Hyderabad team experienced a significant defeat in the game
1 days ago
Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi has been admitted to Medanta Hospital in Gurugram. According to news agency ANI, the 79-year-old Rajya Sabha MP will undergo a minor procedure. In March, the senior Congress leader was hospitalised due to a chest-related health concern
1 days ago
Alia Bhatt just landed at Cannes 2026, and while her “watercolour painting" gown was a total mood, everyone is talking about what she eats for glowing skin. In a chat with Marie Claire France on May 12, Alia didn’t talk about high-end facials but put the spotlight on something much closer to
1 days ago
Law college hostels cannot become mere ‘boarding and lodging facilities’: SCA Delhi HC judgment of 2025 had held that law students cannot be barred from appearing in examinations merely due to shortage of attendance. Published on: May 13, 2026 1:46 PM IST By Utkarsh Anand Share via Copy link
1 days ago
The Central Board of Secondary Education has officially declared the CBSE Class 12 Result 2026. Students who appeared for the Senior Secondary board examinations can now access their scorecards through the official CBSE websites and other digital platforms
1 days ago
Brain does visual processing, text prompts are a cognitive bottleneck: Xi ZengFrom visual reasoning to cultural context, Chance AI’s founder and CEO believes AI’s future is about prioritising perception and not just conversation Published on: May 13
1 days ago
Doctor shares early signs of prostate cancer every man must watch out for: Who is at the highest risk?The best way to fight cancer is to detect and start treatment early. Dr Atangwho shares signs to watch out for prostate cancer to help men do the same. Published on: May 13
1 days ago
Kolkata's Maidan circles mourn the passing of Swapan Sadhan Bose, 'Tutu Babu', a former Mohun Bagan President. He died at 79 following a cardiac arrest. Bose was a significant figure in Indian football administration for over three decades. His leadership saw Mohun Bagan embrace foreign players and
1 days ago
Angelina Jolie’s father Jon Voight worried about her plans to leave Los Angeles, pleading her to meet him one last timeJon Voight is finding it difficult to cope with reports that his daughter, Angelina Jolie, is planning to leave Los Angeles. May 13, 2026
1 days ago
The prices of gold and silver in India jumped sharply on Wednesday after the Union government increased import duties on the precious metals, making them more expensive in the domestic market. Gold futures on the Multi Commodity Exchange had risen by nearly 6% to Rs 1.62 lakh per 10 grams as of 10
1 days ago
‘I felt I belonged’: NRI Justin Bhandari on rediscovering Delhi with his Canadian partnerSpeaking to HT.com, NRI Justin Bhandari shares his journey of bringing his partner home to Delhi and finally feeling "normal" and seen. Published on: May 13
1 days ago
A temple festival in Tamil Nadu has sparked intense discussion online after a viral video showed devotees being handed over coins as prasad instead of making offerings at the shrine. The now-viral clip, originally shared on X by user @ramdevkar07, carried the caption
1 days ago
Editorial independence is core to our work. Some links may earn us a commission, without influencing our opinions.Stop throwing away wilted greens: 5 Smart fridges built to survive 48°C heatwavesThese refrigerators are getting up to 45% discount along with exchange offers and massive banking
1 days ago
Amid reports that Mouni Roy and her husband Suraj Nambiar are heading for a divorce, a new report has now claimed that they are already living separately. As reported by Siasat.com, ABP News’ Saas Bahu Aur Saazish claimed on Tuesday that Mouni and Suraj have already separated and are not living
1 days ago
Astrologer Reena Sharma’s predictions on world politics and Indian elections are drawing attention online after a podcast clip featuring her claims began circulating widely on Instagram. The video lists several bold predictions, including BJP victories in Bihar and Bengal
1 days ago
Uber CEO announced that the company is setting up its first data centre in India with the .He shared the update in a post on X while visiting , founder and chairman of the Adani Group.Taking to X, Khosrowshahi said the data centre is being set up to test and deploy the company’s technology
1 days ago
Indian origin Dubai Bling star Farhana Bodi's blue gown at Cannes 2026 is 15 kg of pure sparkle: ‘Thousands of crystals’Farhana Bodi dazzled in a custom gown at Cannes 2026, featuring thousands of crystals and a dramatic architectural collar, complemented by exclusive jewellery
1 days ago
Market Updates Today: Indian benchmark indices extended gains in noon trade on Wednesday, with the Sensex rising over 330 points and the Nifty reclaiming the 23,500 mark, as broad-based buying in metals, banks, FMCG and mid-caps lifted market sentiment after a volatile start to the session
1 days ago
There is no better excuse to play bartender than World Cocktail Day, celebrated every year on May 13. The day marks the first recorded definition of the word “cocktail," published in The Balance and Columbian Repository in 1806, and has since become a global celebration of mixology, creativity
1 days ago
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has decided to keep the Bhabanipur Assembly seat. He will vacate Nandigram, where a by-election will be held. Adhikari assured Nandigram residents that their development needs will be met. He drew a parallel to his past support for Nandigram
1 days ago
US President Donald Trump has taken a host of top business and technology industry executives on his trip to China this week. Among those joining the president on his official trip to Beijing are Nvidia's Jensen Huang, Tim Cook of Apple, Elon Musk of Tesla and SpaceX, Larry Fink of BlackRock
1 days ago
‘Give us space and privacy’: Mouni Roy breaks silence on separation rumours from husband Suraj NambiarMouni Roy and Suraj Nambiar are rumoured to have separated after unfollowing each other on Instagram. May 13, 2026, 13:52:29 IST By Santanu Das Share via Copy link For the last few days
1 days ago
Fresh concerns over the state of women’s football in India have erupted after a viral video allegedly involving players from Suruchi Sangha during the ongoing Indian Women’s League 2 (IWL 2) season spread rapidly across social media. The footage, widely circulated on X and Instagram
1 days ago
Bangladesh will not be intimidated by barbed-wire border fences and will not remain silent if killings continue along the boundary with India, Dhaka-based news agency UNB quoted Humayun Kabir, the foreign affairs adviser to Bangladeshi Prime Minister Tarique Rahman as saying on Monday
1 days ago
Is Nancy Guthrie suspect a woman? ‘Feminine features’ and ‘second mask’ theories emerge amid search for missing womanAmid various theories surfacing about the Nancy Guthrie case, one speculation that has emerged is that the suspect may be a woman. Updated on: May 13
1 days ago
CBSE to not release merit list for class 12 board exams. Here’s whyCBSE Class 12 results: A merit certificate to top 0.1% of students who have scored the highest marks in subjects will be issued by the board. Updated on: May 13, 2026 1:57 PM IST By HT Education Desk Share via Copy link The
1 days ago
Michael Mott criminal past: Frontier Airlines suicide victim's dark history revealed; chilling mugshots emergeMichael Mott racked up more than 20 arrests in Colorado dating back to 2002, including for attempted murder. Published on: May 13, 2026 12:49 PM IST By Sumanti Sen Share via Copy link A man
1 days ago
