Get up and move while working from home: Study says prolonged sitting is as bad as a cigarette pack

Did you know that sitting for long periods of time can give you high blood pressure and increase your risk of death from heart disease and cancer? In fact, any extended sitting such as at a desk, behind a wheel, or in front of a screen can be harmful.

When we sit, we use less energy than when we stand or walk. Research has linked prolonged sitting to a number of health concerns. They include obesity and a host of conditions — high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist, and abnormal cholesterol levels. Prolonged sitting also increases the risk of death from heart disease and cancer.

Several studies to understand the association between sitting time and health risk factors found that people who sat for more than eight hours a day without any physical activity were at a similar risk of dying from obesity or smoking. faced. Therefore, living a sedentary lifestyle can be hazardous to your health. The less you sit or lie down during the day, the better your chances of living a healthy life. We know that due to the pandemic, most people are confined to their homes and working from home has increased the working hours, leading to long hours of sitting in front of the screen. But it has manifold effects on health.

How Long Sitting Affects Your Body:

Man is made to stand upright. Our heart and cardiovascular system work more effectively that way. Our bowel function is also more efficient when we are upright. It’s common for people bedridden in the hospital to experience problems with their bowel function, isn’t it? Similarly, sitting for a long time or being inactive for a long time can be very harmful to health.

legs and gluteals (Bum muscles): Sitting for long periods of time can cause weakening and wasting of the big toe and gluteal muscles. These large muscles are important for walking and for stabilizing us. If these muscles are weak, we are more likely to fall and get injured from exercise.

metabolic problems Leading to Heart Disease and Stroke: Moving muscles helps our bodies digest the fats and sugars we eat. If we spend a lot of time sitting, digestion isn’t as efficient, so the body will retain those fats and sugars.

hip and joint problemsDue to sitting, the flexor muscles of our hip become smaller, which can cause problems in the hip joint. Sitting for long periods of time can also cause back problems, especially if one consistently sits in poor posture or does not use an ergonomically designed chair or workstation. Even if you exercise but spend a lot of time sitting, you are still at risk of health problems such as metabolic syndrome.

Cancer: Emerging studies suggest that the dangers of sitting increase the likelihood of developing certain types of cancer, including lung, uterine and colon cancer.

How to stay active and healthy during work time:

Sitting for long periods of time is as bad as smoking a pack of cigarettes daily in a day. When you are active your level and stamina improve, and your bones maintain strength. You can start by simply standing instead of sitting when you get the chance, or finding ways to walk while you work.

Take a break from sitting every 30 minutes

stand while talking on the phone or watching TV

If you work at a desk, try a standing desk – or improvise with a high table or counter

Place your work surface on top of the treadmill—on a stand with a computer screen and keyboard or with a special treadmill-ready vertical desk, so you can stay in motion throughout the day.

The effect of movement, even leisurely movement, can be profound. For starters, you’ll burn more calories. This can lead to weight loss and increased energy levels. In addition, physical activity helps maintain muscle tone and leads us to overall mental health.

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