Did you know that one physical position – that you do every day! – can increase your risk of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, cancer, disability, and even premature death? I’m not one to throw around empty scare tactics, so I hope you take this as seriously as I do. Of course, I’m talking about prolonged sitting. Do you have a sedentary lifestyle? If so, read on because the future of your healthy body is at stake.
There’s a lot of news today about the dangers of sitting for long periods of time. It may surprise you to learn the connection between sitting and poor digestion, shallow breathing, increased pain levels, whole body stiffness, and even depression. Increased symptoms relate to the general public whether they’re dealing with fibromyalgia or chronic illness, or not. One recent Huffington Post article has this to say.
Scientists at Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, LA estimated that if everyone sat no more than three hours a day, the average life span would rise by two years. “There’s consistent association between sitting and health,” says Peter Katzmarzyk, Ph.D., Pennington’s associate executive director for population science. “We’re not designed to be sedentary.”[1]
The topic of risks associated with sitting is gaining popularity in the news. You may have seen the TEDx talk that features the phrase, “Sitting is the New Smoking”[2] referring to the risks that the current population faces as opposed to generations past.
So, you’re clear on the
risks of sitting, right?
Here’s what to do about it.
First, recognize the importance of your posture (whether sitting or standing). You can read more in this Spine Tingling News on Pain Relief article here.
Now it’s time to put your body into action. Read more about the connection between sitting and breathing in this article – Is This Surprising Health Risk Taking Your Breath Away?
Do you have any favorite “keep it moving” tips to share? Please do so below!
[1] http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/29/sitting-health-risks-_n_5692271.html
