Because many jobs require us to sit for long periods of time, it can be easy to sit for hours and hours without taking the time to stand up and walk around, or even stretch.
With many people caught up in the idea of only needing to find time for 30 minutes of activity each day, it can be easy to forget the negative effects of sitting for long periods of time, both for mental and physical health.
For the Mayo Clinic article “What are the risks of sitting too much?” by Dr. James A. Levine, people who spent fewer than two hours a day in front of a screen were compared to people who logged more than four hours a day in front of a screen.
Those who spent four hours a day or more in front of a screen had a nearly 50 percent increased risk of death from any cause, and about a 125 percent increased risk of suffering a cardiac event such as chest pain or a heart attack.
Another shocking find discussed in the article was that engaging in a few hours each week of rigorous activity did not offset the negative effects of sitting. A good way to combat the strain of sitting for hours a day is to stand as much as possible while at one’s desk. Replacing one’s desk with a standing or walking desk can also offset the effects of sitting. The positive impacts of staying active during the day both burn calories and decrease the risk of a cardiac event.
Jake Nerone is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at adeperro@cityscenemediagroup.com.
