Why You Should Avoid Excessive Sitting
By Genevieve Cunningham
In case you haven’t heard the big news, sitting has been deemed the new danger to our health. While at one time it was smoking or alcohol, it turns out that sitting is now among the list of things to avoid. But what makes this everyday happening so dangerous? And what can be done to enhance health since sitting is unavoidable? Take a look at these dangers, plus some tips for staying as healthy as possible.
Dangers of Sitting
Keep in mind that just the act of sitting is not dangerous. Instead, it’s sitting for long spans of time over and over again that becomes dangerous. This includes people who are couch potatoes, gamers, and even those stuck behind a desk all day.
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Blood Clots - Too much sitting can cause blood to pool in the lower extremities. Without movement, this can lead to deadly blood clots in the body.
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Inability to Concentrate - Movement forces the body to pump oxygen to the brain and the rest of the body. When you sit for too long, this becomes slow or impaired, which might make it incredibly difficult to pay attention and concentrate.
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Pain in the Back and Neck - Sitting, especially when done for long periods of time, is rarely done with good posture. This means that the neck and back are bent at awkward angles, which leads to stiffness and pain.
Solutions for Staying Healthy
While some scenarios can be cured by lifestyle choices (get up, couch potatoes!), others are a bit out of our control. If sitting is a part of your job, it may be much more difficult to squash the habit. Some of these solutions may help:
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Get More Exercise - Exercise can’t completely reverse the damaging effects of too much sitting, but it can certainly help. Working out may help pump more oxygen, stretch and strengthen the muscles, and work out stiffness within the body.
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Get a Standing Desk - A standing desk is simply a desk made at a taller height. You can adjust it to suit your needs, and it does not require a chair, though some prefer a stool in order to rest occasionally. This makes it difficult to sit all day, so keeping sitting to a minimum becomes much easier.
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Get Chiropractic Care - This is especially good for ending back and neck pain as well as improving concentration. When sitting is unavoidable, chiropractors can remove tension and restrictions in the vertebrae of the spine, which then enhances flexibility and minimizes pain. It also encourages circulation, the immune system, and many other parts of the body to work more efficiently. It’s a great way to negate the bad side effects of sitting while also enhancing overall health at the same time.
While a standing desk can be found at most furniture stores, and exercise can be done anywhere, you’ll need the help of a professional to incorporate chiropractic care into the routine. If you’re interested and looking in the Phoenix area, check out The Joint Chiropractic. Don’t mess with high prices and tight schedules. Instead, use the walk-in visits and affordable pricing plan that are available to every patient who visits The Joint. If you can, minimize sitting for the best results. When you can’t, or when you just want a boost in health, visit with chiropractors at The Joint and get started down the right path today.
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic.
