Is sitting too much unhealthy for you?
It really does depend what you mean by sitting to much. Sitting is good when you need to rest from a great deal of physical exertion. However, if a person does not get any physical exercise or movement, your body will deteriorate. Blood flow is necessary for good body function and oxygen to be sent throughout the body. The heart needs to pump and when a person sits and does nothing, the heart rate slows down. It also can increase your body weight when a person constantly sits or lays down without much excercise or movement. If a person has to sit for long periods during the day, it is a good idea to take breaks, stretch, walk around, or walk up and down some stairs. Sitting for long periods of time can not only be a physical detriment but could possible cause some forms of depression.
Researchers have linked sitting for long periods of time with a number of health concerns, including obesity and metabolic syndrome a cluster of conditions that includes increased blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist and abnormal cholesterol levels. Too much sitting also seems to increase the risk of death from cardiovascular disease and cancer. One recent study compared adults who spent less than two hours a day in front of the TV or other screen-based entertainment with those who logged more than four hours a day of recreational screen time. Those with greater screen time had:
A nearly 50 percent increased risk of death from any cause
About a 125 percent increased risk of events associated with cardiovascular disease, such as chest pain (angina) or heart attack
The increased risk was separate from other traditional risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as smoking or high blood pressure.
Sitting in front of the TV isn’t the only concern. Any extended sitting — such as behind a desk at work or behind the wheel — can be harmful. What’s more, spending a few hours a week at the gym or otherwise engaged in moderate or vigorous activity doesn’t seem to significantly offset the risk.
Rather, the solution seems to be less sitting and more moving overall. You might start by simply standing rather than sitting whenever you have the chance.
Long periods of sitting can cause health issues. Some of the more common issues can be heart disease, risk of diabetes, muscle pain/stiffness, bone density (that can actually cause osteoporosis) and negative effects on mental health.
If you find yourself sitting too long, get up, move around, stretch…