Is Sitting Worse Than Smoking? Know The Hazardous Side-Effects Of A Sedentary Lifestyle
New Delhi: A sedentary, slow, and lazy lifestyle sounds good, but is not practical in the long run. According to health experts, sitting or lying for too long increases the risk of chronic health issues, which include life-threatening diseases like heart attacks, diabetes, mental health problems, and even some cancers. According to health experts, humans are built to stand upright and need lots of physical activity to stay fit and healthy. Moving around helps your vital organs like the heart, cardiovascular system, bowel movements, etc. Also, being physically active helps improve your overall energy levels and endurance and strengthens bones.What happens to your body when you sit a lot?Sitting all day can be very damaging to your body. Here are some of the things that happen in your body when you spend too much time just sitting:Slows blood flow allowing fatty acids to build up in the blood vesselsDecreases your bodys ability to process fatsThis leads to insulin resistance causing diabetes and obesityWeakens your bonesMuscles lose strengthAffects your brainHazardous side-effects of a sedentary lifestyle A few ways in which sitting all the time can cause you trouble are: Weight Moving around and exercising helps your body digest fats and sugars while making you fit and healthy. If you spend most of your time sitting, digestion slows down and eventually becomes inefficient, making you retain the fats and sugars as just fat in your body. Sitting or a sedentary lifestyle for a longer period can cause health issues like metabolic syndrome. Doctors suggest you need at least 45-50 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise every day to combat the dangers of excessive sitting. Anxiety and depression Anxiety and depression begin to set in as you stop moving around. Doctors say it was evident how increased sitting during the COVID-19 lockdown adversely impacted the mental health of millions across the world. According to health experts, sitting down slows metabolism and causes muscle atrophy. Sitting down also leads to back problems due to posture issues. Always make sure to take enough breaks and walk around the block or try just walking around the house. Cancer Some health experts also studies say that sitting for long hours increases your chances of developing some types of cancer, including lung, uterine, and colon cancers. According to the American Cancer Society, it is important to get at least 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity each week. According to the health journal JAMA Oncology, moderate-to-vigorous exercise like cycling leads to a 31 per cent lower risk of dying from cancer. Light exercise, such as walking, can lead to an 8 per cent lower risk. Heart disease Sitting for long periods has also been linked to heart disease. Doctors say people who watch a lot of television and do not indulge in moving around or working out have a 64 per cent higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. Disclaimer: Tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general information purposes only and should not be construed as professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a dietician before starting any fitness programme or making any changes to your diet.
Wednesday, May 17, 2023 at 3:35 am