As our lifestyles in the western world become increasingly sedentary, there are more studies being done on the effect of so much sitting down on our health, and the results are never good. Backache, damage to vertebrae, diabetes, kidney disease, muscular problems and more have all been linked to prolonged periods of sitting on a regular basis. Now a new study shows that those of us who sit for more than three hours per day on average will actually not live as long as those of us who do not, by an estimated two years. All those office workers who have moaned, and groaned this job will kill me; have actually been proven correct. This reduction in life expectancy was true even in cases where the person was otherwise fit and active.
Fighting the Dangers of Sitting
When talking about certain health risks associated with sitting there are measures we can take to combat them. Taking frequent short breaks, getting plenty of exercise and performing certain stretches regularly can all help to prevent or alleviate backache or pains in the neck and shoulder muscles. Eating a healthy diet, staying hydrated and keeping fit will usually keep diabetes at bay. Steering clear of fatty foods and being fit and active will reduce the risk of heart disease. Despite all this however, there is only one thing we can do to eradicate certain problems associated with too much sitting, and that is to reduce the amount of time we spend doing it.
How Long Is Safe To Sit?
The majority of studies done on the subject of sitting use the three hour benchmark. Sitting for less than three hours a day seems to be acceptable and not harm our health in any noticeable way. Over three hours and the risks increase dramatically. Lying prone is actually much better for us than sitting down, as the body weight is spread more evenly.
I Have A Desk Job; what Are The Alternatives?
Standing or walking desks have increased in popularity and therefore in availability over the past few years, due in part to studies such as these being released. While standing up or walking slowly on a treadmill whilst working may sound tiring, the majority of those who have tried it actually report feeling more alert at the end of a day than when they were sitting all day long. Our bodies are not naturally designed to sit in office chairs for any length of time. Standing or walking desks may take a bit of getting used to after years of sitting, but eventually they will feel just right. If this is not an option in your workplace, you can at least try to off-set the issues a little by not spending your free time sitting down as well.
This post was provided on behalf of Chair Office who stocks everything you require to set up your office exactly the way you would like it.