Beware of the Chair

Chances are you’ve spent more time than usual sitting in a chair or lounging on the couch the past several weeks. That’s understandable given current circumstances, but too much idle time can cause serious health problems.

A sedentary lifestyle, sometimes called sitting disease, can cause:

• Excessive fat around the waist
• Increased blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels
• Obesity

Any one of these factors increases your risk for heart disease, diabetes or other serious health conditions. “The American Heart Association recommends getting 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise a week, or about 30 minutes a day five days a week,” said Avery T. Abernathy, DO, a family medicine physician with Meritas Health Park Plaza. “Try to break a sweat, which means you have reached an intensity level that makes the exercise meaningful.”

What To Do

Switching between sitting and standing every 30 minutes can reduce your risk for serious health problems.

At Home

• Get 20-30 minutes of cardio at least five days a week
• Stand while texting or talking on the phone
• Walk a few laps or climb stairs between TV episodes

At Work/Working From Home

• Stand while talking on the phone or eating lunch
• Take a walk around the block
• Invest in a standing desk

If you’re concerned about being too sedentary, talk with your doctor about other ways to prevent sitting disease.