We all knew that being sedentary causes various health issues, and new research keeps giving us reasons to move. According to recent studies, sitting in front of your laptop or just in general for prolonged periods can cause serious health issues. Here are some of the health hazards that sitting can lead to.
Deep vein thrombosis
Deep vein thrombosis is a medical condition that occurs when there is a blood clot in one or more veins of the body. It usually happens in the legs. It causes searing pain in the calf muscles and swelling in the limbs. The blood clot can affect the flow of blood into the lungs, which can be fatal. Deep vein thrombosis occurs due to long periods of inactivity, sitting still, or lying in bed.
Chronic back pain
Many people who spend a large portion of the day sitting at their desk jobs have back pain. It’s hard to maintain a good posture for your back if you sit for a significant amount of time. People inevitably start slouching, which creates pressure on your spine’s discs — especially those on your lower back. Sitting prolonged periods through back pain also makes it chronic.
Obesity
People who spend too much time sitting and watching television also tend to over-eat. Due to spending so much time inactive, their bodies also have a slower metabolism. The slower metabolism coupled with over-eating leads to obesity. Obesity itself can cause other complications such as heart attack, stroke, and diabetes, etc.
So, the next time you are working long hours on your laptop or binge-watching the new Netflix series, take short breaks to move around and stretch your muscles. Try talking on the phone while you are taking a walk. If you have back pain, maybe use a standing desk.
