Staying in a fixed position for a long time causes many problems because it inhibits the blood flow that should normally circulate inside the body and lowers the metabolism. In particular, sitting for long periods of time is known to be a risk factor adversely affecting health. Sitting still brings our body to a stagnant state, causing problems with normal muscle movement and hormone metabolism, causing abnormal symptoms in various body organs. And if this lifestyle continues for a long time, it is known to have an impact on the development of cancer. It has been found through various studies that a sitting posture for a long time has a bad effect on our body, but we are not fully aware of how maintaining such a posture affects the body, and even if we do, it is often overlooked. As mentioned before, prolonged symptoms of various physical abnormalities increase the risk of various spinal diseases, skeletal diseases, and cancer, so it is necessary to change habits to better understand the problems and improve them. So today, let’s look at various problems that appear when sitting for a long time. Problems with sitting for long periods of time
1. Back Pain
The most common abnormality that occurs when sitting for a long time is back pain. A sitting position puts more pressure on the lower back than a standing position, and it puts a lot of pressure on the back muscles as well, causing lower back pain. Low back pain caused by sedentary life for a long period of time increases the risk of developing a herniated disc, which is caused by the prolapse of a disc, a structure between the bones of the vertebrae. In addition, bending forward in a sitting position almost doubles the amount of weight on the spine and increases the risk of various related diseases by overstretching the spinal ligaments.
2. Weight gain
Sitting for long periods of time also increases your chances of gaining weight. When you sit, your metabolism slows down, reducing your energy expenditure, which in turn leads to excessive accumulation of body fat. In fact, it has been found that obese people are more likely to sit, on average, 2 hours a day than non-obese people. In addition, a study published in the journal Physiology found that people who were active on their feet every day consumed an average of 1000 kcal more per day than those who spent a long time sitting at a desk.
3. Thrombogenesis
A thrombus refers to a lump formed by the hardening of blood components inside the blood vessels. Sitting for a long time reduces the smooth flow of blood and increases the risk of blood clots. This large amount of thrombus formation is known as a major risk factor for various diseases such as stroke, heart disease, deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism. In addition, prolonged sedentary habit blocks the production of lipoprotein-degrading enzymes and causes an increase in LDL cholesterol, which is called bad cholesterol, which affects the development of various blood vessel-related diseases.
4. Abnormal blood sugar control
If the habit of sitting becomes hard, it can also cause problems with the normal functioning of the pancreas. The pancreas secretes a protein hormone called insulin, which lowers blood sugar in the body. Sitting for a long time affects the function of the pancreas, preventing the normal production of insulin and lowering the ability to control blood sugar. A study conducted at the University of Missouri in the United States also found that sitting for a lot of time a day increases the risk of diabetes, even if you exercise for a certain amount of time a day.
5. Increased risk of cancer
It is said that the hardened lifestyle of sitting for too long changes the constitution to consume too little energy, which increases the incidence of various cancers. According to a study conducted by the University of Washington in the United States and the University of Regensburg in Germany, sitting for one hour a day increases the risk of cancer by 66%. And it has been reported that if you spend more than 2 hours sitting, your risk of colorectal cancer increases by 8%, and in women, the risk of endometrial cancer increases by 10%.
6. Increased risk of developing varicose veins
Sitting in one position for a long time without moving can cause poor blood circulation, which can lead to valve function problems. Varicose veins is a disease that occurs due to the reflux of blood due to the failure of the valves to function. During the onset, the calf veins become abnormally tortuous and the skin turns dark. Sitting for long periods of time can cause blood to stagnate in your legs, increasing your risk of varicose veins.
other problems
Continuing the habit of sitting for a long time not only causes deterioration of brain functions such as concentration and memory, but also can cause cognitive decline. In addition, it is reported that the continuation of the pattern of looking at a computer or smartphone amplifies negative emotions such as anxiety and depression, which adversely affects mental health. In addition, several studies have found that sitting for long periods of time affects the overall mortality rate. For men, sitting for six hours was an 18% higher risk of death, and women who sat for more than six hours a day had a 40% higher risk of death over the next 13 years compared to those who sat three hours a day. How to fix problems with sitting for long periods of time
In order to improve the various problems mentioned above, it is recommended to get up and move for about 5-10 minutes every hour. Also, stretching, bare-handed gymnastics, squats, etc. are good ways to release stiff muscles. In addition, regular exercise such as light walks, steady aerobic exercise, and push-ups or sit-ups also helps to solve problems caused by sitting for a long time. When exercise time is not enough, it is a good way to use your usual commute time to increase walking time, and to use stairs instead of escalators or elevators.
