American researchers warned last week that sitting for 10 hours a day, whether at work or watching TV, “rapidly” increases the risk of dementia.
The researchers said that those who sat for 10 hours a day were 8 percent more likely to develop dementia than those who sat for nine hours a day.
Those who sat for 12 hours a day were 63 percent more likely to develop this condition.
The British Heart Foundation says that adults of working age spend an average of 9.5 hours a day sitting.
The time increases to ten hours a day or more between the ages of 65 and 74 years, and 11 hours for those over 75 years of age.
Physiotherapist Neil Mead said: “Sitting for a long time is a major factor in lower back pain, and sitting can lead to fatal consequences.”
A study conducted by the University of Glasgow found that 30 minutes of exercise a day was not enough to offset the health risks of sitting for hours.
So what can you do to help yourself?
Ways to reduce the number of hours you sit daily include standing, climbing the stairs, walking around the office when you receive a phone call, and going out for a walk on your lunch break.
Risks associated with sitting for long periods
cancer
Research has shown that limiting prolonged sitting can reduce the risk of several types of cancer, including lung, uterine and bowel cancers.
Threat to heart health
Various studies have found that sitting for long periods is harmful to the heart. Australian researchers found that every hour we spend sitting watching TV increases the risk of death from cardiovascular disease by 18 percent.
Diabetes
The same university review found that the most inactive people had double the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Psychological health
Symptoms of depression, anxiety, and loneliness have been linked with inactivity, which may include sitting all day.
2023-09-19 05:40:04
#Sitting #long #hours #day #deadly #threat #health
