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Leg crossing, which is often an unconscious force of habit, might be detrimental to one's health. According to new research, leg crossing is a habit to quit due to the possible side effects that it has on a person's back and blood vessels. Doctors have routinely advised against leg crossing because the weight of one leg over the other can lead to a rise in blood pressure. Although crossing one's legs does not mean that one's blood pressure will remain high, new research has found that crossing legs might lead to varicose veins, which are swollen blood vessels that could hinder the flow of blood in the body.

Although researchers have not determined that leg crossing directly leads to varicose veins, they believe that the two factors are somewhat linked. Varicose veins are most common in older women who have had many children, and the condition can be harmful because it can block the passageway for blood to reach the heart. Researchers believe that leg crossing can put pressure on blood vessels, which might contribute to the development of varicose veins. Even though leg crossing has not been proven to contribute to varicose veins, there are several other side effects of leg crossing that have influenced doctors to recommend people to stop the habit.

Chiropractors and other researchers believe that leg crossing can lead to complications in the lower half of the body. Since leg crossing places more stress on the back, persistent leg crossing can lead to back pain, bad posture, and hip and pelvic pain. These researchers believe that leg crossing contributes to pain and swelling because the action is directly putting pressure on the nerves found in the knee. This added pressure could lead to the numbness of the foot, described as "falling asleep," which is not considered to be dangerous but might lead to possible nerve damage.

Regardless of the lack of research, doctors continue to advise against leg crossing based on speculative evidence. So as a preventable measure, people should consider kicking the habit.