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An overwhelming majority of people spend their days sitting or lying down. We go from bed to the breakfast table and then to work. We sit for numerous hours and then do everything we did in the morning in reverse. The amount of time most people spend sitting down has caused concerns in the medical community for a long time as there are serious problems that could arise from it. Here are some serious health reasons that should convince you to sit less and move more.
Hypertension
Even though a lot of people are excited to be working from home, they might not know that sitting down for long periods is part of a sedentary lifestyle that increases the risk of hypertension. Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, can lead to a cascade of other health issues including heart disease.
Short walks or runs in the morning coupled with short walking breaks throughout the day can help reduce this risk. There are other lifestyle changes you need to make if you have a sedentary lifestyle to reduce these risks and improve your overall health.
Different Body Aches and Pains
Sitting can lead to aches and pains in different parts of the body, depending on how you sit and what you sit on. Neck, shoulder, and back pain are all very common in people who sit for long periods. Those who hunch over are more likely to face these issues, with additional spinal issues later in life.
Poor posture can also cause much more serious issues such as disc problems in the neck caused by herniated disks.
Those with serious issues should see a doctor immediately so they can be checked out and the doctor can recommend changes and rehabilitation strategies. If you only have some pain caused by contractions in the neck, upper and lower back, and store shoulders, a deep tissue massage can give you relief.
Deep tissue massages target deeper muscle layers, giving you relief from aches, stiffness, and pain. To get the best results, you should get a deep tissue massage Oxfordshire from a salon or massage centre with trained and accredited masseuses.
Weak Bones
You should periodically stress your bones through various load-bearing activities. This is a good thing because it strengthens the bones and signals the relevant cells to replace old bone tissue with new tissue.
Sitting for too long deprives your body of the chance to be stressed like this. The risk is fragile bones because the old tissue is not being replaced. There is also a higher risk of osteoporosis, especially as you get older.
Blood Clots
Blood clots are very serious because they can turn fatal very fast and without you realising you are at risk. Slow blood flow from the extremities (legs and hands) increases the risk of developing blood clots, especially pulmonary embolisms. The risk is much higher for those with lower levels of proteins that prevent clots.
Conclusion
While some sitting is required for much of what we do at work, it is important to limit the amount of time we spend doing so. The dangers and risks discussed above are a great reason why.