At the end of a long day, you probably appreciate sinking into a comfortable chair and putting your feet up. However, while this is a nice reward if you’ve been on your feet all day, it’s not a good idea if you’ve been sitting all day!
The simple truth is that more and more people are sitting for eight hours or longer a day and it’s not necessarily good for your health.
Sitting: The Facts
Sitting all day is not good for you, here’s why:
Increases Risk Of Death
You may be surprised to learn that sitting for more than 6 hours per day will increase your risk of death by 71%! But, that’s not all, sitting for 5-6 hours a day watching TV isn’t fully compensated for by exercising 4-7 hours a week. You still increase your risk of death by 50%
6% Of Global Deaths Relate To Physical Inactivity
That’s a terrifying fact. The simple truth is that a sedentary lifestyle slows your metabolism, weakens your heart, and increases the likelihood of a variety of diseases, including cancer and diabetes.
In particular, you should be concerned with cardiovascular disease. The risk of contracting this increases by 147% if you sit for more than six hours a day.
Mental Health issues
You may be surprised to learn that sitting for 7 hours or more a day will also increase the likelihood of you developing Alzheimer’s or becoming depressed. It’s believed that lower blood circulation makes it more difficult for you to feel the positive effects of your natural endorphins.
Ways To Stand And Move More
If you have mobility issues or are accustomed to sitting all day then a visit to this reputable physiotherapy Botany will help you with some simple exercises. These will stimulate your muscles, improve blood flow, and ultimately help you to sit less.
There are several other things you can do to decrease the amount of time you spend sitting.
Exercise
Exercise is critical to health as you age and has been linked to a decreased likelihood of age-related diseases. It is also believed to help maintain quality of life into old age.
The average person should aim for 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise every week. Just make sure you choose something you enjoy.
Standing Desks
Standing desks are becoming increasingly popular for good reason. Standing at a desk instead of sitting increases your metabolic rate and you’ll find that you move around significantly more.
You can still lower the desk into a sitting position when needed but you’ll be surprised at how quickly you prefer standing. You can even incorporate stretches into your daily routine without leaving your standing desk.
Start A Hobby
Another good idea is to take up a hobby. This will get you out of your chair and encourage you to turn the television off. Not only will you be physically and mentally active, but you may even make some new friends while doing something you love.
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