For many people, office work involves long periods of time spent at their desks, and for some, it can be all day. While there has been an increase in ergonomic products, people who spend the bulk of their day sitting face serious health risks. Read on to learn how sitting all day can be damaging to your body.
1. Weak glutes and legs
When sitting, you don’t depend on your legs and glutes to hold you up. This leads to the weakening of your lower body muscles. Your body requires strong glute muscles and legs for stability, otherwise, you are at risk of injury.
2. Anterior pelvic tilt
The anterior pelvic tilt is a postural misalignment that occurs when the pelvis is tilted forward and down. It leads to tightening of the glutes, abdominal muscles, lower back, hip, and knee pain. Learn how to fix anterior pelvic tilt in adults and fix it as soon as it happens. You can also reduce the risk of anterior pelvic tilt by avoiding sitting for prolonged periods of time, exercising, and sitting with proper posture.
3. Heart disease
Sitting for prolonged periods of time is not good for your heart health and can lead to cardiovascular disease. If your daily timeline includes driving to and from work, sitting all day at your desk, and unwinding on your couch in the evening, then you should be alarmed. According to a study, people who sit for more than seven hours a day are at greater risk of dying from heart attack and stroke.
4. Diabetes
Sitting all day reduces the ability of your body to handle blood sugar, leading to insulin resistance, a precursor to diabetes. People who spend all day sitting have a 112 percent increased risk of type 2 diabetes.
5. Obesity
When you move, your muscles release molecules such as lipoprotein lipase, which helps to process fats and sugars that you eat. When you sit all day, the release of these molecules is lessened, which slows down the processing of sugars and fats. You can also develop metabolic syndrome if your day revolves around lying down or sitting, which leads to weight gain around the middle section.
6. Cancer
Prolonged sitting has been linked to certain types of cancers like colon, lung, breast, and ovary cancers. According to a study, women who work in a sedentary job are at higher risk of developing ovary and breast cancer.
7. Varicose veins
Prolonged sitting causes blood to pool in the legs, which can result in varicose veins or spider veins. Although they are not harmful themselves, swollen and visible veins are unsightly. In rare cases, varicose veins can cause more serious problems like blood clots.
Endnote
Although prolonged sitting has its dangers, you don’t have to quit your job. You can take steps to reduce these risks. Ensure you exercise regularly and find ways to reduce prolonged sitting in the workplace. For instance, you can have stretch breaks at your desk, take the stairs when taking a trip to another department and stay hydrated to promote heart health.
