In short: It’s a common habit—crossing your legs while sitting. Some say it’s classy, others say it’s bad for your health. So what’s the truth?
What Does Crossing Your Legs Really Do to Your Health?
It’s a common habit—crossing your legs while sitting. Some say it’s classy, others say it’s bad for your health. So what’s the truth?
Blood Pressure May Rise (Slightly)
Recent studies show that crossing your legs at the knees can cause a small but significant increase in blood pressure. One clinical study found that in people with hypertension and diabetes, crossing the legs at the knees raised systolic blood pressure by 6–8 mmHg, and diastolic by 2–3 mmHg. In people with normal blood pressure, the increase was smaller—but still measurable.
Interestingly, crossing the legs at the ankles did not raise blood pressure at all. And the effect was the same for both men and women.
Why does this happen? Crossing your legs at the knee may temporarily compress blood vessels and change how blood flows back to the heart, causing a short-term rise in pressure.
What About Arterial Circulation?
A separate study looked at whether leg crossing affected peripheral artery pressure—especially in diabetic patients with vascular disease. Researchers found no significant drop in lower limb blood flow when patients crossed their legs, whether at the knees or ankles. While some individual variations existed, the overall data suggested that leg crossing doesn’t seriously harm arterial circulation in most people.
Should You Be Concerned?
For healthy individuals, crossing your legs occasionally isn’t harmful. But if you have high blood pressure, are being treated for diabetes, or are undergoing a blood pressure test, it’s a good idea to avoid knee-crossing during measurement. In fact, current guidelines recommend that blood pressure readings be taken with feet flat on the floor, legs uncrossed, and back supported.
Bottom Line
Crossing your legs won’t ruin your health—but it can raise your blood pressure by a few points during a reading. If you’re managing cardiovascular risks or want accurate measurements, keep your feet flat. Otherwise, that leg cross might be more about comfort—or style—than health.
For more evidence-based health insights, visit iSeeGP.com.au.
Disclaimer: This information is general in nature and does not replace professional medical advice. If you have symptoms or concerns, please see your doctor.