A great number of us spend a large part of our day doing it. Whether it’s when we’re watching TV, driving around town, or staring at the computer at our place of work, it's happening. That “it” is sitting, and it’s becoming a huge problem. While we may not consider sitting to be as harmful as puffing on a cigarette, according to health experts, sitting can damage the body just as smoking can.
Dr. James Levine, an endocrinologist with the Mayo clinic, explains that most people spend an alarming 10-15 hours per day sitting. From when we wake up to when we go back to sleep, much of our daily routine involve sitting.
So, just how bad is it?
According to a recent analysis, explains Dr. Levine, “there are 34 chronic diseases and conditions associated with excess sitting.” People who sit for long periods of time increase their risk of Type-2 diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and even cancer.
Turn off the Television
One of the most popular activities we partake in while sitting is watching TV. Well, it might be time to consider turning it off. In a study consisting of 8,800 adults reported by Australian researchers in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association, it was discovered that each hour spent watching TV daily “is associated with an 18% increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease.”
Keep Your Body Moving
Diseases stemming from too much sitting can easily be prevented. Here are some suggestions to keep your body in action:
Get up and move around for 10 minutes of every hour
Stretch your legs
During meetings, stand up or conduct walking meetings
Instead of e-mailing your coworkers, walk to see them
Try using a standing desk
Always choose the stairs over the elevator
Consider Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care is an excellent way to help with issues stemming from prolonged sitting. Sitting for long periods of time can contribute to poor posture and back and neck pain can worsen. Chiropractic may be what you need to improve your posture and reduce neck and back pains.
We would love to discuss even more ways to make movement a bigger part of your day. Small, easy to make changes can have lasting benefits for your health.
