THE DANGERS OF SITTING FOR TOO LONG

Sitting for long periods of time has been linked to a number of health hazards, especially with elderly people. In most cases, people can't help sitting for extended periods of time due to the nature of their work, but it's good to always know what kind of risks they are running into with matters pertaining to their well-being. Below are some of the complications and diseases that may arise as a result of sitting for too long.

Cardiovascular diseases: Sitting down means that there is zero mobility, so no energy is used and no calories are burnt. This results in fats accumulating in the heart, and sometimes causing blockage of veins; thus hindering blood flow in and out of the heart. This eventually causes heart related diseases, such as heart attacks and high blood pressure.

Swayback: This is a spine condition caused by too much stretching forward of the spinal cord. If a person doesn't sit straight up or simply slumps into a chair, the end result is a painful back due to a strained spine. Sitting on a chair with the back and the legs at a ninenty degrees angle can highly reduce the risk of this painful condition.

Deep vein thrombosis: Sitting causes slow blood circulation in the legs. It results in accumulation of fluids in the legs leading to blood clots and swollen ankles. While sitting, make sure that your feet touch the floor, this reduces the strain on the spinal cord and also helps in the circulation of blood.

Obesity: As one must eat, and no fat is converted to energy due to the inert position, it increases cholesterol in the body and it all ends up in the stomach and other parts of the body. This makes the person big and obese, which is a type of disease. Avoid snacks when not doing anything physical, instead take fluids, preferably water.

In order to avoid or reduce the risk of suffering from too much sitting related complications, exercise regularly. If finding time to perform any physical activities is impossible, then take small breaks in between your work. Walk around the office for five minutes after every two hours, it ensures free blood flow through the whole body. Movement stimulates the production of antioxidants, which remove toxins from the body through the lymphatic system. This will also help with good brain functions, because the more blood flows into the brain; the better it functions.

By Marygorrett Mueni Mutinda