Stand Up To Sitting Disease From
Your Kalamazoo Chiropractor

Sitting Disease: The Slow, Silent Killer

If you’re like 86 percent of America, your job requires you to sit all day. It might not seem like a big deal but then maybe you go home, relax on the couch from a long day at work. Maybe you watch tv, or read a book, or just scroll through your phone, catching up on what all you have missed that day. Before you know it, you’ve been sitting for 13-15 hours. And then? You go to bed before restarting the process all over again.

You might not find this “disease” on Web MD but it is incredibly important to know the overall effects that sitting has on your health, especially in the long run.

The Dangers Associated with Sitting too Much

According to Just Stand, an organization dedicated to educating workers on the dangers of sitting, there is medical research proving that prolonged sitting increases the risk of cancer, diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease and even death.

A couple of these facts from their research may even shock you:

• Workers who sit for the majority of their day for more than 10 years have twice the risk of colon cancer
• Workers who sit for more than 11 hours increase their risk of death within 3 years by up to 40 percent.
• They are twice as likely to get heart disease than those who stand often.
• These workers have similar MRI scans as someone with dementia.
• These workers often suffer from severe neck and back pain.

These are just a few of the dangers that are associated with sitting. For more information on the dangers of sitting you can visit JustStand.org.

How to Stand Up to Sitting Disease

More and more, companies are looking for ways to help combat the negative side effects of a desk job. If you are worried about the amount of time you spend sitting at a desk, here are a few tips to help you fight it.

• Get a standing desk. Not only do standing desks help get you off your feet, but they also elevate your computer screens and daily tasks so that you are not slouched over at a desk. Studies show that those with standing desks have less risk of developing obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer and even death. If your company is unable to buy you one due to cost restrictions, try elevating your computer screen by stacking it on books or a higher surface.
• Alternate between sitting and standing every thirty minutes. For most people, going from sitting all day to standing can be incredibly difficult which is why we recommend alternating. Challenge yourself to simply start by sitting for a half hour then standing for a half hour. Eventually work your way up to an hour, then two, then three.
• Be more active. Studies have proven that exercising at the end of the day does not compensate for sitting all day. High levels of inactivity put stress on your body that cannot simply be undone by a 30 minute — or even an hour — end of day workout. Make an effort to get up and move around while you are at work. Your body will thank you and so will your health.
• See your Kalamazoo C The seated position puts huge stress on your back muscles, neck, and spine. In fact, studies have proven that being in a sitting position will place 140 kg of pressure on your spine. And leaning forward in this position increases the pressure to over 185 kg proving that it’s even worse if you slouch or are looking at a computer screen. Visiting your Kalamazoo Chiropractor at Resilience Health Center not only makes sure your spine stays in its proper position, but it increases energy, mood and the overall function of your body.

If you have any additional questions please call our Kalamazoo chiropractic team at Resilience Health Center today or click the link below to schedule your first appointment!