Today’s lifestyle is creating some new dangers. Sitting for a long time is one such habit which is proving dangerous for health. In this article, we will see what are the health hazards of prolonged sitting and how they can be avoided.
In today’s fast-paced world, sedentary lifestyles are on the rise due to the increasing demands of desk jobs, digital entertainment and convenience-oriented lifestyles. When you sit, you use less energy than you do while standing or walking, which has a huge impact on health.
Many trials have linked sitting for long periods of time to various health problems. These include obesity, increased blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess fat around the waist and unhealthy cholesterol levels that are part of metabolic syndrome. Sitting too much or for long periods of time can increase the risk of cancer and even death in today’s lifestyle. Whether you’re sitting at a desk, in a wheelchair, or in front of a screen, all of these can be harmful.
WellHealthOrganic.com:Health-Hazards-of-Prolonged-Sitting
About 13 studies of sitting time and physical activity levels were analysed by multiple investigators. In these studies, they found that people who sit for more than 8 hours a day and do not have any physical activity have the same risk of death as obesity and smoking.
However, some other studies found that 60 to 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity per day reduced or eliminated the effects of too much sitting in people. Meaning that if a person walks briskly for 60 to 75 minutes every day and does any kind of physical exertion and then sits a lot, then the effect on his health due to sitting becomes very less or there is no effect at all.
Some other studies have found that for the most active people, reduced sitting time significantly reduces their risk of death. Meaning, people who work hard on their body and then sit for a long time, there is no effect on their body.
Overall, the study points toward acceptance that less sitting and more physical activity is important for a healthy life. So, when you get a chance, just stand or find ways to walk while working.
What are the dangers of sitting too much?
Weight gain and obesity
Sitting for long periods of time increases the risk of weight gain and obesity. Sitting weakens our body’s metabolism, which reduces the ability to convert food into physical energy. This increases blood sugar levels and affects the body’s ability to break down fat, which can lead to obesity.
Back and neck pain
Sitting for a long time can often cause back and neck pain. This problem usually arises due to wrong posture and sitting in one position for a long time. This leads to the experience of back pain which mostly occurs in the waist area and the main cause of neck pain can be tension and lack of pressure in the neck muscles.
To avoid this, we should take care of our posture while sitting for long periods of time and spend time standing or walking for short periods at regular intervals. Through correct sitting posture and exercise, we can avoid this problem and protect our musculoskeletal health.
Weak muscles and lack of flexibility
Sitting for long periods of time weakens our back and neck muscles, especially due to poor posture. This can cause back and neck pain, which can make many daily tasks difficult.
Additionally, sitting for long periods of time reduces the flexibility of our muscles. This can impair our ability to concentrate and balance, causing many problems such as back pain and other physical problems.
Heart disease
The habit of sitting for a long time increases the risk of heart diseases. This increases due to sitting in normal life which affects the health of our heart which can lead to heart attack, stroke and high blood pressure problems.
Arthritis
Sitting for a long time increases the risk of arthritis. This is a common problem that can arise due to careless sitting posture and generally affects most people.
Sitting changes the structure of the body and can lead to muscle weakness, which leads to Vata dosha. This directly affects the body’s balance and can cause pain and joint conditions.
The most common symptoms of arthritis include: joint pain, swelling, coldness, and condition. Therefore, it is important to avoid sitting for long periods of time by maintaining correct posture and sitting position. Keeping yourself warm regularly, taking cold water baths and practicing yoga can help avoid arthritis.
Mental health
The habit of sitting for long periods of time is a big challenge in the modern lifestyle which can affect our mental health. This habit can make us more prone to experiencing problems like loneliness, anxiety and depression. Positional sitting puts more stress on our muscles and brain, which affects our mood and self-confidence. Sitting for long periods of time leads to lack of physical activity which has a negative impact on our mental health. Therefore, by taking breaks from time to time or making a habit of walking, we can definitely protect our mental health.