When you think about the cause of death, you probably don't think about sitting for a long period of time at work. According to several studies, sitting for too long has the potential to harm your health. The risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and back pain can be lowered with just one lifestyle change: less sitting time.
The Dangers of Sitting Too Long
How long do you spend sitting during the day? Maybe you've heard the phrase "sitting is the new smoking" coined by Dr. Levine. He estimates that Americans spend more than half of their time sitting, whether it's watching TV, driving, or working.
“But my job does take a long time to sit down."This seems to be a complaint of most workers, especially since the work-from-home policy emerged.
Sitting for 30 minutes can actually slow down your metabolism by 90%. After 2 hours, good cholesterol will decrease by 20%. The activity of the enzymes which responsible for transporting bad fats from the arteries to the muscles to be burned decreases during sitting. Muscles in the lower body also die.
Research involving nine long-term studies also showed that people who spent 12 hours per day sitting had a 14% higher risk of heart disease or stroke than those who only sat for 2.5 hours per day.
Reduce Sitting Time
Spine Orthopedic Surgeon at Premier Bintaro Hospital, dr. Harmantya Mahadhipta, Sp.OT (K) Spine explained that the maximum normal limit for sitting is one hour. After an hour, a person is advised to stand or stretch.
Actually, there is no specific standard for how much time a person spends to be considered sitting too long. However, if your job or activities have been mostly done in a sitting position, it's a good idea to start reducing your intensity of sitting. So, your bones, muscles, and the body as a whole can be more functional.
Some doctors even recommend taking a break from a sitting position every 30 minutes. You can stand, walk, or go up and down stairs. While you’re at the office, use your lunchtime to do light exercise or just be active, not just working all day long.
In addition besides avoiding sitting too long, the correct sitting position can reduce the risk of health problems related to postures such as back or neck pain.
It's a good idea to start considering the health risks that will come to you if you sit for too long. Your boss will not be able to take responsibility for your health. Therefore, taking care of your health is your own responsibility.