Sitting and my health – Tribune Online

I understand that prolonged sitting can be bad for one’s health especially at an elderly age. I am a tailor in my 50s. Kindly let me know how I can reduce my sitting period.

Femos (by SMS)

Sedentary behavior contributes to obesity and cardio-metabolic unhealthiness. This is because blood clot formation in the lower extremities that may travel to the lungs due to prolonged sitting (e.g., long haul flights) is probably the most feared immediate complication of ‘sitting too much. Sitting all day is inevitable for some lines of work, so a total of 12 hours of sitting time might be acceptable as long as there is a break to this regularly. Easiest to remember is every hour. The disruption to sitting (change of position to standing) is what they’ve used here to explain the reduction in systolic blood pressure.

I agree that blood flow is improved by this habit. Sitting to standing/walking every hour likely helps maintain our blood vessels ‘trained’ to do so and maintains good circulation, particularly in our lower extremities. Sitting too long can lead to premature mortality, heart disease, and diabetes. It can also have negative effects on mental health.

Some of the ways to reduce sedentary behavior include the following; Set alerts on wearable devices, Be mindful to stand and walk every 30 minutes or 60 minutes at work, and finally, if you have on-site coworkers, help each other at by reminding them to stand/walk regularly.

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