What are the health risks of excessive sitting?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 25 year old female. I am very much interested in learning about excessive sitting. Could you please tell me the short-term and long-term health risks faced due to excessive sitting? How does prolonged sitting affect cardiovascular health, metabolic health, and musculoskeletal health? What is the relationship between excessive sitting and cardiovascular diseases such as heart disease and stroke? Can prolonged sitting contribute to risk factors like hypertension and dyslipidemia?

Please help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com

I read your query and can understand your concern.

Prolonged sitting has various side effects, but it all depends on the duration of sitting, the general health of a person, exercise after sitting, daily routines of eating, sleep patterns, and diet.

Your blood flow to various parts of the body is reduced, which can cause numbness.
It reduces metabolism and increases the chances of obesity.
It increases the chances of joint problems because of immobility.
Less fat metabolism can lead to the risk of atherosclerosis.
It can disturb mental health because of inactivity and less androgen production.
Increased chance of thromboembolism in old age or in people who are prone to thrombosis.
People who sit most of the time have a 16 percent more chance of heart disease than people with a normal lifestyle.
Prolonged sitting causes a risk of diabetes development due to insulin resistance, as metabolism is disturbed.
There is a chance of acidity in the stomach because of immobility and prolonged sitting.

I hope I have answered your question.

Let me know if I can assist you further.

Thank you.