Sitting Too Long can Kill You

You may be exercising regularly, but if you sit for prolonged periods your health – in fact, your life – could be at great risk. So, sit up and take note because Americans spend more than half of their time sitting: at the office, at home, at school, and in their cars.

Sitting too long can adversely impact your health.

Sitting too much can cause major muscle imbalances that result in a weakened core, bad posture, muscle atrophy, loss of flexibility, lower back pain, weight gain (you burn fewer calories), headaches, fatigue and even death.

Many experts have believed that sitting too long adversely affects your health. Recent research published in January 2010 confirms this. The research indicates that individuals who spend most of their days sitting are more likely to be fat, have a heart attack or suffer a fatality.

The British Journal of Sports Medicine published information provided by Elin Ekblom-Bak of the Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences. According to Ekblom-Bak, after four hours of sitting your body starts to send harmful signals. Genes regulating the amount of glucose and fat in your body start to shut down. "People should keep exercising because that has a lot of benefits, but when they're in the office, they should try to interrupt sitting as often as possible," says Ekblom-Bak.

In an extensive study the results of which were published in 2009, researchers found that people who sat for longer periods had a higher death risk, and it did not matter if they exercised or not. This study tracked more than 17,000 Canadians for about twelve years.

The solution to the problem is relatively simple: take periodic breaks and stretch often.

Here are some suggestions:

1. Take a break at least every forty-five minutes.

2. Stretch throughout the day. You can stretch when you take your breaks. Download this poster that will show you how you can stretch at work or at home. Pin the poster to the wall of your work and home office to remind yourself that you need to stretch often. These exercises will help you reduce fatigue and avoid bodily injury.

3. Instead of sending your colleagues an email, walk to their offices and tell them what you want them to know.

4. Use a posture cushion regularly. This will not only help improve your posture, but improve your blood circulation and relieve your upper body stress as well.

5. Exercise regularly and spread your exercise routine over the course of the day if possible e.g. before and after work, or at lunch time and after work.