Scientists have studied two people in the same profession but doing different tasks, like a driver and a conductor in a bus. Their lifestyle, diet was alike but those who sat for long hours were twice as likely to get heart disease as those who stood during their work.
Shorter life
You are more likely to have an earlier death from any health problem if you sit for long stretches of time. It does not help if you exercise every day or not. It does not mean that you should avoid going to gym. If you do that your life will be even shorter.
Dementia
People who sit too much can develop brain that looks just like that of someone with dementia. Sitting also raises the risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke, BP and high cholesterol. Keep moving throughout the day even if you are in a sedentary job, it will help to give your brain some sort of change and refreshment that helps in the long run.
Exercise Undone
Too much of sitting cannot be countered with good exercise. Even if you work out 7 hours a week, you can’t reverse the effects of sitting 7 hours at a time. Don’t waste all the hard work you put in at the gym, by hitting the couch often but keep moving and be active through the day.
Risk of diabetes
Sitting down burns calories slowly and the quantity if of course fewer. Sitting changes the way the body reacts to insulin, the hormone which helps burn sugar and carbs to get energy. This gets to spike of sugar in the blood and giving rise to lifelong diabetes.
GET DVT
Another effect of sitting down for long hours is the occurrence of DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis). It is a clot that forms in the leg, often because you sit for too long. It can become serious if the clot breaks free and lodges in the lungs. Some people will have swelling and pain in the leg whereas may will have no symptoms.
Weight Gain
When you sit for long hours watching TV or surf the web then you is more likely to be overweight or obese. Exercise every day is good but it won’t make a huge dent in the extra weight gained. It is always better to limit your sitting time.
Stress & Anxiety
If you are involved in too much screen based activity it can disrupt your sleep and make you feel anxious. Solitude can also make you withdrawn and cause social anxiety. Most of this time is spent either sitting or lying down and this can affect your health.
Back Pain
When you are constantly seated it puts huge stress on your back muscles, neck and spine. It’s even worse if you slouch, so try to sit in an ergonomic chair with right height and support for the back. Remember however comfortable you get, your back will still not take too much of sitting sessions. Get up once in a while and move around to keep your back out of extra stress and pain.
Too much of sitting is seen to cause varicose veins and even your risk of various cancers goes up. So it is always best to get up and get moving as and when time permits.