Is Sitting Dangerous?
Yes, according to the lead article in the latest issue of Bottom Line Health, a magazine I heartily recommend (published by Boardroom, Inc. BLHealth@Boardroom.com).
It seems that the longer you sit, the more likely you are to increase your risk of cardiovascular and other diseases.
Sitting “causes your central nervous system to slow down, leading to fatigue.” It also “weakens your muscles… and stiffens your joints,” which leads to poor posture and a greater risk of joint and back pain.
When you sit for a long time, your body doesn’t burn fat as efficiently; there will also be negative effects on “blood sugar and blood fat levels,” raising the risk of diabetes and heart disease.
The answer is to stand up, move about, even do some exercise! Get up and walk around for at least ten minutes every hour. Try to work standing up, or have a walking conference. Turn off the TV and do some housework, or wash the car. Stroll over to your colleague’s desk rather than sending an email. Make, and take, phone calls standing up. Take a mid-day walk; use the stairs, and let others take the elevator. You might enjoy the solitude!
Reflecting on this article reminds me of what Dr. Robert Carey, former Dean of the U.Va. Medical School, said about my book, The Lord’s healing Words: “It’s very good, but you don’t emphasize exercise enough.” Before he would write a forward for that study of what the Bible says about physical, mental, and spiritual health, he required me to find a way to stress just how vital it is to get enough physical exercise.
Advertisement: To read what he eventually did write, and see how I tried to comply with his mandate, go to http://www.amazon.com/G.-Wright-Doyle/e/B0039K7ZEC