The Effects of Sitting

According to Dr. James Levine, “Sitting is more dangerous than smoking, kills more people than HIV, and is more treacherous than parachuting. We are sitting ourselves to death.” To break it down, her is what is happening when you spend too much time sitting in a chair:

Organ damage
Naturally, our body is effected negatively when sitting for long periods of time. Our muscles burn less fat and our blood flows much slower when sitting verses when active. This can lead to fatty acids clogging the heart, along with high blood pressure and cholesterol and eventually cardiovascular disease. Also, our pancreas is known to over produce insulin, which can lead to diabetes.

Muscle Degeneration
When we are standing, our ab muscles are generally more tightened and tensed than when sitting. Long periods of sitting in a chair can also impact the mobility of our hips and strength of the glutes, which can effect something as simply as standing and walking.

Weight Gain
No shock here. Obese individuals generally sit for 2.5 more hours a day than thin people. Between 1980 and 2000, sitting increased by 8% and obesity doubled.

Loss of Brain Power
When you aren’t moving, you are not pumping oxygen to the brain, which allows your brain to function at it’s maximum potential. Plainly put, your brain becomes foggy.

Back and Neck Pain
Long periods of time spent seated (for people of all ages) can cause physical symptoms, mainly effecting the back and neck. Holding a phone to your ear, hunched over, the constant motion striking keys and moving the mouse leads to strains in your cervical vertebrae leading to back pain, sore shoulders and neck strain. Simply put, the act of sitting puts additional pressure on your spine and compresses your spines discs.

Come in for an adjustment with one of our Chiropractors to manage this type of physical disruption on your body. Call us at 905-845-2291 or click here to send us a request via the website.