GET UP NOW

 

Your life depends on it....

Sitting for prolonged periods can really damage your overall health and we must be careful not to stay seated for prolonged periods to avoid it.

Our bodies are a miraculous system of functions intertwining and dependant upon the activity and motion of the body.  Systems link lymphatic system, have no pump of their own and depend on motion to remove toxins from our bodies.

We have all experience the pain and discomfort of sitting too long, but lets find out what happens all the way through our bodies.  It may begin with discomfort but also affects the organs, hormones, bones, muscles, blood vessels and more.  

Lets start with the muscles as they weaken and actually degenerate over time.  The gluteal muscles loose strength and integrity, not to mention the full support of the hips and thighs, this will affect the way youwalk or run as the stability is affected.  Look deeper to the joints and this lack of stability adds increased stresses and wear on them.

Lets look at the abdominal muscles as well as they have a far more important roll.  They support our torso and spine, if they becme weak thenthere are greater stresses placed on the spine.  But it goes even deeper as our internal organs all need support to keep them inplace as opposed to settling and stretching nerves, blood vessels, connective tissues and placing more pressure onthe organs and bowels as well.  Constipation is just one possible outcome, but also think of what the pressure on the diaphragm and therefore more shallow breath, this produces less lung capacity and thereforeoxygenization to the brain (leading to brain damage) and body, you see how much just sitting can spiral into major health issues and damage.

Going further the compressed nerves are affected as the normal transmissions are impeded, this also causes a cascade affect which will ramify on many normal physiological functions.  Again the weakening of your legs and hips with the development of sciatica can lead to spinal issues (or vice versa) slow the bodies abilities and actions so the entire system also slows... too many ramifications to list actually.

The bones also weaken as bones need weigth and tension from activity to keep building density.  Being sedentargy weakens this vital building and over time we become more frail.  

The back, neck, shoulders all become strained and the compression of the spinal disks start to also ramify on the spinal nerves... those are what bring the electrical messages from the brain to the organs and complete body. These become less efficient as do the organs and muscles.

The heart as example will begin clog more readily as your body burns less fat and the blood flow slows.  DIgestion slows as does elimination leaving more toxins and decomposed food in you.  All of this can lead to cancers, diabetes and shave many years off your life.

GET UP NOW

So what can you do if you need to sit long periods driving, at a computer, taking tolls at the tunnel, etc.?

First is to move at minimum  every hour... get out of the car and stretch, learn some muscle constriction/stretching exercises to tone and relax the whole body.  Get up and deliver a file or if working at home do a load of laundry... but just do something it will keep you alert as well.

There are now some great rising desktops that will allow you to stand and work on the computer at your desk.  Or learn some seated stretches and exercises to offset some of the above (and myriad of unmentioned ill affects) health issues.

Even 30 - 90 minutes of working out can be negated if you sit for 6 - 8 hours a day, so you will still need periodic movement.  So....

GET UP NOW and save your life, save your body, mind and spirit.

Good Health - Evan Pantazi