If you're going to light up, at least make sure to stand up.

New research has found that sitting for long periods of time can be just as dangerous as smoking.

The results of various studies will take your breath away almost as much as a 20-year two-pack-a-day habit.

Cardiologist David Coven says there are plenty of studies which indicate sitting on your duff for extended periods can aid the development of heart disease, obesity, diabetes, cancer and early death. Think about that the next time you decide to curl up on the couch to trim a few hours off your DVR.

Dr. Coven says sitting for a long time means your body isn't working properly because it goes into storage mode. And the more you sit, the more chance you'll develop one of those conditions, the same way you can with smoking. And that means you'll have to sit more – in waiting rooms, anxiously preparing to talk to a doctor about your illness.

So, what's the cure? Well, for starters get up whenever you can because it causes the blood to move. Stand when you take a phone call and take walks during a break at work. And for goodness sake, get up now. Haven't you learned anything?

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