Every person, having worked their daily 8-10 hours, wants only one thing — to collapse on the couch, open a can of beer or soda, and forget. The paradox is that at work, many of us sit motionless, sorting through papers or staring at the screen, and when we get home, we sit down again. It turns out that we are in a sitting position for more than 12 hours, much longer than our bodies want. Evolution didn’t expect you to spend most of your time in a chair. She hadn’t even imagined the existence of such an item.
Man was created to live in nature, where you need to constantly move in order to survive. Therefore, there is nothing strange in the fact that our health deteriorates with every hour spent in a sitting position. Do you think we’re exaggerating? No. Any static position eventually leads to painful sensations, because the body cannot be “preserved” — it cannot be at rest for a long time. Sitting leads to bone and muscle dystrophy, heart disease, obesity, diabetes mellitus, and overall poor health. If you’re not convinced by our words, let’s move on to the facts.
6 things that happen to your body when you sit all day
1. Circulatory problems
Our body is made for movement, not for sitting. This is confirmed by the anatomy: we have a huge number of joints and skeletal muscles. The man got back on his feet, got elastic skin and many other advantages that allow him to move freely. Do you remember the burning sensation or cramps in your calves? This is a consequence of the fact that blood stagnates in the veins due to a sedentary lifestyle. Do I need to explain why this is dangerous? For example, the risk of stroke increases.
2. Muscle wasting
Which parts of the body are the most “lazy” when sitting? Buttocks and calves. They hardly work, and this leads to their weakening. The good news is that the harm can be reduced: it’s enough to get up and warm up periodically. If you don’t want to reduce your muscles to atrophy, it’s better to add regular workouts.
3. Predisposition to completeness
It’s not just a lack of physical activity. There is an enzyme called lipoprotein lipase, which works worse if you sit for a long time. It is responsible for the breakdown of fats in the blood. When its activity decreases, fats are processed more slowly, which contributes to weight gain. In addition, in a sitting position, the calorie-burning rate drops to about 1 calorie per minute, which is too little to keep fit.
4. Pinching of nerves
Sitting may seem comfortable, but it’s a strain on the nervous system. An unnatural posture leads to pinched nerves and body pain. Visit. A F R I N I K. C O M . For the full article. Spasms occur in the shoulders, neck, and lower back. In addition, blood circulation is disrupted, and nerve cells do not receive the necessary energy.
5. Problems with the spine
They are serious because almost no one knows how to sit properly. We hunch our shoulders forward, forming an unnatural arch of the spine. This leads to wear of the intervertebral discs, weakening of the ligaments and constant muscle tension. Over time, the volume of the chest decreases, and less oxygen enters the bloodstream. As a result, weakness appears, breathing worsens, and the brain’s performance decreases.
In addition, the risk of chronic diseases of the lower back increases. The vertebrae shift, press on each other and begin to collapse. Given the number of nerve endings in the back, this can lead to severe pain. But there is good news: if you change your body position every 15-30 minutes, your condition will noticeably improve. You can walk, make coffee, or just stretch a little at your desk — it’s better than nothing.
6. The body is protesting against a sedentary lifestyle
You are a part of nature. There is a program in every living being: how to move, how to react to danger, how to survive. The person has moved away from it, but the instincts have not disappeared. Nature has made it clear that our nature is movement, not sitting in front of a screen. Even if you don’t exercise, your body still needs to be active. It is “programmed” to be ready for action at any moment. Pain when sitting is not only a physical consequence, but also a signal from the body. He literally tells you to get up and move around. Your body is not designed to sit for hours. It’s made to move. Take care of yourself and try to sit less.
