Sedentary comes from the Latin word meaning to sit, but just because you’re sitting doesn’t mean you’re sedentary—just ask any cyclist or rower. The problem is sitting motionlessly. That causes blood to pool and stagnate in our legs, which can result in arterial dysfunction. Just like our muscles can atrophy from disuse, it may be use it or lose it when it comes to artery function as well. Special cells lining our arteries can detect the tugging, sheer force of the blood flowing past and send signals through the artery wall to maintain proper structure and function.
