Effects of sitting for so long

It is many people's wishes and desire to work in an office as it is deemed high paying, respectful and  less stressful.

 

Apart from the fact that most officers like bankers, managers, executives and every other positions in offices that involves stagnation and non-kinetic earn far more than those engaging in black collar and energetic jobs, working in office command respect in the society.

However, it is proven beyond doubt that excessive sitting down day-in day-out without any kinetic activity to break this can be inimical to the body and to general well-being.

Apart from saturated foods and unhealthy lifestyle like smoking and drinking, excessive sitting down is known to be a causative factor of obesity and heart related issues.

Also, rhematoid activities including joint pain; joint swelling; warmth, redness and stiffness of the joint can be as a result of sitting down for so long.

 

In addition, because obesity arises from less food being burnt in the body than the amount of food ingested, sitting for long which does not involve kinetic activities may be a contribute factor to the weight-gain menace.

The following are nine adverse effect of sitting down for so long.

Pancreatic activity

Since sitting down does not allow muscles to communicate effectively with the pancreas regarding their level of glucose use, the pancreas creates more glucose than the body needs, and may casuse an overload in the bloodstream. This can lead to diabetes and other serious health conditions.

 

Cancer

For reasons that are not yet clear to scientists, it appears that sitting too much increases the risk for a number of cancers, including breast, colon and endometrial cancer. One theory suggests that excess insulin production linked to inactivity spurs cell growth that can get out of control and result in cancer.

Heart sickness

This is a condition that has been plaguing modern man for decades. New discoveries are changing the thinking in regards to the behaviors that lead to heart disease, and now it appears that sitting too much may be a significant factor. Research studies have found that people who too much time sitting or engaged in other sedentary activities are more than twice as likely to suffer from cardiovascular disease.

 

Paunch

Apart from junks consumption, sitting is another way the wall of the stomach can get covered by fat quickly. Sitting is one of the worst thing you can do if you are on quest to build a “six pack” set of abdominal muscles to show off at the beach. The abdominal muscles play a vital role in helping us stand up, and when we sit, they go unused and become loose and can lead to a condition called hyperlordosis, which is also known as “swayback.” That certainly does not sounds like the most attractive posture in the world.

Poor circulation

Poor blood circulation is another hazard linked to sitting for long periods of time. When this happens, legs can begin to retain fluid, and potentially lead to conditions such as varicose veins, swollen ankles and even something known as deep-vein thrombosis or DVT, which can result in the formation of clots in the legs which may then travel to other areas of the body like the heart and lungs, causing a life-threatening medical emergency.

Spinal problem

Physical activity keeps our bones in a constant state of regeneration, which causes them to become stronger and thicker. Sitting for long periods, on the other hand, does the exact opposite, and can cause bones to become more soft and brittle. This can eventually contribute to conditions such as osteoporosis, which has become much more common in recent decades.

Brain dysfunction

Since moving about causes a beneficial increase in blood flow, long periods of inactivity can result in a diminished supply of oxygen-rich blood for the brain, which can then make it more difficult to focus on work or even to concentrate on other simple tasks.

Neck strain

Few people have perfectly-designed chairs, desks or work areas which often leads them to assume unnatural positions, such as leaning forward to see a computer screen or tilting their head to support a telephone handset. The result could be a strain of the cervical vertebrae, which can end up causing permanent damage.

Back issues

The discs that make up a key part of our spinal column are flexible, and are designed to flex and move as we move around. As we do so, the discs absorb vital nutrients from the bloodstream. Sitting for extended periods can cause discs to be compressed unevenly. This can cause a build up of collagen that hardens around the ligaments and tendons that help support our spine which decreases flexibility.

 

Although, sitting may be of great adverse effect, its effect may be reduce drastically if someone can stand for a while and have a short walk in between the period of duty. It is also advised to trek a couple of minutes when closed for the day as a light exercise that ease the joint and the mind.