A frightening new study indicates that something you probably spends hours doing every day may very well end up in your untimely death: sitting. Yes, the hazards of a sedentary lifestyle have come up with in several scientific studies in recent years, but a new study confirms that sitting around a lot may signficantly raise your risk of heart disease.

It’s the latest study to add to a growing pile of evidence that even for people who exercise, a sedentary lifestyle can prove deadly, although scientists still don’t understand a lot about how much exercise it takes to counteract the effects of sitting and whether the amount of sitting is proportional to the risk. But the researcher certainly shows that it’s a good idea to start taking steps now to reduce the time you spend sitting and make an effort to move around a bit more, according to an American Heart Association statement.

Experts recommend at least 30 minutes per day of moderate exercise, such as going on a brisk walk. And that’s a minimum — more exercise will likely lead to better results. If you’re bound to a desk as many workers are, it’s best to take breaks throughout the day and get up to move a bit every hour or so. You might even consider, if possible, a standing desk to allow you to work while standing up.

The reality is that Americans spend a lot of time each day sitting: at their desk at work, in the car on their commute, and on the couch watching TV at home. Studies have shown that adults are sedentary for about six to eight hours per day, and that rate grows as one gets older.

“Regardless of how much physical activity someone gets, prolonged sedentary time could negatively impact the health of your heart and blood vessels,” said Deborah Rohm Young, Ph.D., director of behavioral research at Kaiser Permanente Southern California in Pasadena and chair of the new scientific statement published in the American Heart Association journal Circulation.