Introduction
You know that old saying, “sitting is the new smoking?” It turns out that there may be some truth to it. According to a growing body of research, spending too much time sitting can have some serious health consequences. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the health hazards of prolonged sitting. We’ll also discuss some of the best ways to break up your day so you can get up and move more. So read on for tips on how to stay healthy and active, even when you’re stuck at your desk all day!
Why Sitting for Too Long Is Bad for Health
You may have heard that sitting for too long is bad for your health, but do you know why?
When you sit for extended periods of time, your body is in a resting state. This means that your blood flow slows and your muscles and joints stiffen. This increases your risk of chronic health problems such as heart disease, diabetes and some cancers. It can also raise your risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.
In addition, prolonged sitting can lead to weakened muscles, tight hips and poor posture. This can cause chronic back and neck pain.
Risks of Prolonged Sitting, From Back Pain to Heart Disease
When you sit for extended periods of time, it’s not just your feet and legs that are affected. In fact, prolonged sitting can lead to health concerns such as obesity, heart disease, and deep-vein thrombosis.
This is because when you’re inactive, your body stops releasing important hormones and enzymes that help with digestion, blood circulation, and keeping your heart healthy. Not only that, but sitting for long periods of time also raises the risks for chronic diseases such as diabetes and metabolic syndrome.
All this adds up to a significant increase in health risks. So the next time you have a meeting or work from home, be sure to get up and move around every 30 minutes or so to keep your body active and healthy.
What the Science Tells Us About the Harm From Sitting Too Much
It’s no secret that spending too many hours sitting down is bad for our health. In fact, studies have shown that sitting for long periods of time is linked to a number of chronic health problems such as heart disease, diabetes and some cancers.
What’s more, recent research has shown that prolonged sitting can also have a negative impact on our metabolic health. This means that even if we exercise regularly, if we spend the majority of our time sitting down, we’re still at risk of developing chronic health conditions.
So what can we do to combat the health hazards of prolonged sitting? The most obvious solution is to make a conscious effort to break up long periods of sitting with regular breaks to move around. However, there are also a number of great tools and technologies available that can help us stay active even when we’re stuck at our desks.
Strategies to Break Up Your Sitting Time
There are certain strategies you can employ to ensure you are taking regular breaks from sitting, and to reduce the health risks associated with prolonged sitting.
First and foremost, you should aim to take frequent breaks and stretch regularly throughout the day. Taking breaks to walk around or do light physical activity can help break up prolonged periods of sitting and reduce stress levels. This could be as simple as a quick five-minute walk during your lunch break or doing a few stretches in between tasks.
Furthermore, you should look into incorporating physical activity into your daily routines and habits. Even going for a short walk after dinner can have positive impacts on your health. Lastly, research suggests that breaking up health hazards of prolonged sitting with light walking can have positive effects on metabolic outcomes such as improved blood sugar balance and lower cholesterol levels.
Exercise and Physical Activity Recommendations for Reducing Sitting Time Risk
The good news is that you can help lower your risk of ill health from prolonged sitting time by exercising regularly and reducing your sitting time. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity, or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity each week to stay healthy.
Adding a couple of 15-minute bouts of physical activity into your day is a great way to reduce your sitting time, as well as boost your energy levels and mental well-being. And if you’re finding it hard to get motivated, why not try doing something different like joining a sports team or signing up for an exercise class? An exercise buddy or group can be just the motivation you need to stick with a routine.
Office Setup Tips for Improving Your Posture When You Do Have to Sit
When you need to sit, there are some things that you can do to reduce the negative effects of prolonged sitting. These tips will help ensure that your posture is better and that you’re reducing the strain on your body when sitting.
First, adjust the height of your chair and work station so that you can sit close to your work. This will help keep your neck from craning forward from poor posture. Second, try and be conscious of how you’re sitting—keep your back straight and maintain a gentle sway in your lower back for less strain on the spine. Finally, if possible, take breaks every 15 minutes if you’re able to move around a bit in between. Doing this can help reset your posture and reduce fatigue over time.
Conclusion
So, what can you do to break the sitting habit? Well, obviously, you can try to get up and walk around every hour or so. But even if you can’t do that, there are still plenty of things you can do to make being sedentary less hazardous to your health. For example, you can try stretching or doing some light calisthenics every time you take a break from sitting. You can also invest in a good standing desk, or try using a stability ball instead of a chair at work.
Bottom line, sitting for prolonged periods of time is not good for your health, and it’s important to take steps to break the sitting habit. If you can’t get up and walk around every hour, try to do some light exercise or stretching every time you take a break. And if you can afford it, invest in a standing desk or stability ball to use at work.