Risks of a Sedentary Lifestyle for Working Professionals

The way we work has changed dramatically today in our ‘modern-paced’ digitally assisted life style. Most of the time we are setting for an extended amount of time, like when you will be sitting at your desk, when you are commuting back home, or even if it’s a Sunday morning meeting. Although a sedentary lifestyle might seem an inevitable part of the contemporary work setting, such a way of living dramatically increases human health risks. In this blog, we delve into the perils of sedentary lives for working professionals and place additional emphasis on how several young people are catching up with heart issues post-novel coronavirus infection. In this post, we will talk about effective ways to reduce these risks and live an an active life in a healthy manner.

The Rise of Sedentary Work

Factors that have played a role in this transition to mostly sedentary work include:

• Technological Advances: Computers, Smartphones, and all manner of digital tools mean that more work can be done without ever leaving your desk.

• Remote Work: With the COVID-19 pandemic expediting our journey to remote work, opportunities for physical activity via commute and moving about the office have diminished.

• Globalization: Connecting globally leads to being available for everyone across the globe; however, It keeps the human glued out to the screen due to different time zones that need to be addressed during all light hours!

Health Risks Associated with a Sedentary Lifestyle

• Heart Issues: Spending long hours sitting is harmful to the heart. If you do sit for long hour, this makes it difficult for your body to break down fat and regulate blood flow, and that increases cholesterol levels in the human body, which also increases heart disease risk.

• Post-COVID Concerns: A year after being caught by the first wave of it, young are now experiencing heart issues post-COVID-19. Myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle or other cardiovascular complications. This is further complicated by a sedentary lifestyle caused by viral fatigue.

• Weight Gain: Due to inactivity, the calories taken through food are not burned and hence fats begin to accumulate. Walking and riding on a bicycle help burn down these calories that would otherwise be converted into sugar.

• Metabolic Syndrome: Due to high blood pressure, high blood sugar levels, extra fats around waist, and abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels people are at a greater risk of heart disease, stroke as well as type 2 diabetes.

• Back Pain: Sitting for hours at a stretch always puts stress on the backbone producing persistent back pain and negative posture.

• Joint Issues: Inactive conspiracy causes stiffness and soreness in some parts of body, especially the neck, shoulders, and hips.

• Depression and Anxiety: The sedentary way of living leads to mental disorders, depression, anxiety. If nothing else, physical activity can help release endorphins that will make someone feel better and minimize stress.

• Cognitive Decline: Decrease in physical activity also causes lack of cognitive function comprising loss memory and lack of concentration as well.

• Type 2 Diabetes: Extended periods of inactivity can cause insulin resistance which is a gateway to type two diabetes. Keep on the move to help moderate your blood sugar levels and keep up with insulin sensitivity.

Why Young People Are at Risk

• Remote Work and Study: Sedentary time in young people significantly increased as a result of large shifts towards working or studying online during the pandemic.

• Reduced Physical Activity: Due to the implementation of lockdowns and social distancing, people have started losing their chances of physical work which include sports activities, gym visits etc.

• Cardiovascular Impact: In addition to the direct cardiovascular effects of COVID-19, there are several indirect impacts. In two very different cases, young, healthy people have had long-term heart damage after having the virus.

• Inflammation and Immune Response: The body’s inflammatory response from its immune system to the virus can damage cardiovascular movement within humans, which affirmatively humiliates sedentary living effects on health.

Practical Strategies to Combat Sedentary Behavior

• Frequent Breaks: Stand up, stretch and move around every hour. This can relieve some of the pressure on your body and help with blood flow.

• Walking Meetings: Whenever possible when it comes to meetings, convert meetings into walking meetings Not only will this get you started, it can help increase creativity and productivity too.

• Standing Desk: With the increase in work stress and tight schedules, it is always helpful to have something that can help you switch. Consider having an standing desk or convertible one which allows you to stand and sit whenever required.

• Ergonomic Setup: Make sure that your workspace is ergonomically designed, meaning it reduces any strain on the body and encourages good posture as well.

• Exercise Routine: Create a plan regarding regular exercise that contains both cardiovascular and strength training exercises. shoot for a minimum of 150 minutes/week of reasonable-intensity exercise.

• Active Commuting: Try to walk, ride your bike or rollerblade if you can as an alternative means of transportation for part of way everyday.

• Stretching and Yoga: Include some stretching exercises or yoga in your daily routine for flexibility of joints as well as refreshment of the mind.

• Meditation and Mindfulness: Practice to keep calm your stress level leading the better life.

• Balanced Diet: Make sure that you are eating well. Include fruits, veggies, and whole grains in your diet as it helps your overall health as well.

• Hydration: Make sure to drink ample water throughout the day for hydration purpose as well as for body functions.

Long-Term Benefits of Reducing Sedentary Behavior

Heart Function: Exercise helps you to develop a stronger heart and increase blood flow, which lowers the danger of most cardiovascular disease — we’re talking problems like high cholesterol, coronary artery disease, congestion from clot forming as well..

• Blood Pressure: Exercise will help you lower your blood pressure and also improves cholesterol.

• Calorie Burn: Physical activity increase burn more calories which help in maintaining weight and also prevent an individual from developing obesity.

• Metabolic Health: Regular movement helps with metabolic health by reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.

• Mood Improvement: Due to physical when you ride your whole body starts releasing endorphins, which helps improve our mood and also reduce depression and anxiety.

• Cognitive Function: The brain health is supported by the regular exercise and in turn this enhances the memory, focus and cognitive function as well.

• Strength and Flexibility: Exercise makes the muscles stronger and more flexible which will prevent you from feeling muscle pains due to sudden strain.

• Posture and Alignment: Regular movement helps keep your posture in tip top shape along with maintaining the spinal alignment, which reduces pain on one’s back and joints

Modern work-life, which is loaded with a sedentary way of living can expose us to serious health troubles. It even the young professionals are no less immune to them! However, with the onset of COVID-19 hardly has affected us. Understanding the importance of combining physical activity into our lifestyle on a daily base routine is very important to help lower your risk for cardiovascular disease, obesity, mental health issues and more

Overall, utilizing common sense methods to help reduce time spent in a sedentary position will promote greater health and wellness regardless of the demanding schedule professionals may face at work. All this not only improves the quality of life, but helps in being more productive and perform better at work too. Navigating our way through the post-pandemic world, it’s important to be aware of just how effective (and devious) a sedentary lifestyle can be and try our best stay one step ahead with movement!