Sitting the new smoking
SITTING: THE NEW SMOKING
Long commutes, desk jobs, computer work, even a few hours at night spent on the couch can be very detrimental to your health and here's why:
1) Spine damage and poor posture. Sitting for longer than 20 minutes causes the discs in the spine to compress and lose flexibility, which raises the risk of a herniated disc. It also leads to weak muscles in the shoulders, neck and back, which affects posture and can cause back and neck pain.
2) Weight gain. Sitting while eating or immediately after sitting slows digestion. Slow digestion can cause constipation, heartburn, bloating, and weight gain over time.
3) Poor circulation. Inactivity leads to poor circulation, which can eventually cause blood clots, swelling, weak bones, varicose veins, and even osteoporosis.
Simply moving more frequently throughout the day will help combat these negative effects of sitting. Here are a few easy ways to get moving:
*Take the stairs whenever possible
*Park further away from building
*Move around at least once per hour
*Use a chair without armrests to sit straighter
*Walk on coffee and lunch breaks
