Are you sitting down? That’s not good news if you have been sitting for quite some time.
You’re probably inactive for more of your day than you realize. Do you sit in your car while commuting to an eight-hour-a-day desk job and then unwind in front of the television for most of the evening?
Does your definition of “running errands” mean turning on your computer to check your email, pay your bills and do some shopping?
If so, then you could be susceptible to “sitting disease”, the buzzword for a sedentary lifestyle that may put your health at risk.
A sedentary lifestyle or long periods sitting over time can take a toll on your health. Researchers have found that a sedentary life could be just as dangerous, if not more so, than smoking. People who work in sedentary jobs for 10 or more years double their risk of bowel cancer and are more likely to develop heart disease, obesity and diabetes.
Extended periods of sitting, typically at work, can have serious effects. When you sit for long stretches of time, your body stops working as effectively as it can.
The problems of being sedentary are avoidable even if you’re a desk jockey. This doesn’t mean you have to take out a membership at the local gym. The key to avoid being sedentary is to include low-impact movements during your work day to keep your metabolism humming and your circulation flowing. Cooking qualifies, or gardening, or even taking a walk around the office. The key is to move around as often as you can.
The obvious remedy to sitting disease is standing—while you are at your desk or doing any number of activities. While standing all day may not be healthy or practical—people naturally want to sit at times to rest or when intensely concentrating – you should try to add movement or standing to your day for 10 minutes every waking hour according to osteopathic.org.
For example, take the stairs instead of the elevator, or walk even one flight of stairs before taking the elevator. A recent study published by the CDC indicates adjustable sit-to-stand products are an effective solution for reducing prolonged sitting. You can instantaneously sit or stand as you choose while remaining effectively engaged with your computer.
