‘Blood can start pooling in your legs’: What happens when you stand for too long

Dr Pal Manickam has brought attention to a health concern that is often underestimated: the dangers of standing for extended periods. In an Instagram video, he explained that prolonged standing can lead to circulation issues. He described the body's second heart as the calf muscles and how they assist in returning blood to the heart.

When the calf muscles are inactive for prolonged periods, blood can pool in the legs, causing a condition known as venous incompetence. This can result in varicose veins or deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Dr Pankaj Kumar Hans, a laparoscopic surgeon at Asian Hospital, confirmed that standing for long hours can indeed increase the risk of vein problems.

He explained that gravity makes it more difficult for blood to return to the heart, leading to increased pressure in the veins. This can cause varicose veins, leg swelling, and chronic venous insufficiency, particularly in individuals with other risk factors such as obesity, pregnancy, advanced age, or a family history of varicose veins.

To protect vein health, Dr Hans recommended taking short walks every hour, performing calf raises or ankle pumps, avoiding standing still for long periods, maintaining a healthy weight, and staying physically active. For those at high risk, compression stockings may be prescribed, but only after consulting a doctor.