‘Sitting is the new smoking’

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As many of you may experience day to day, many jobs require one to sit for prolonged periods of the day. Undoubtedly by now, you’ve seen people using standing desks at work. Believe it or not, there are even treadmill and stationary bike desks for those who want more physical exercise throughout their work day. What you may not know is the toll that sitting for extended periods of time can have on the body.

A study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute that encompassed more than 4 million individuals, revealed a strong correlation between the number of hours a person sits and their risk of developing diseases that include heart disease, colon and lung cancer. Given these findings, Dr. James Levin, director of the Mayo Clinic in Arizona, coined the phrase, “sitting is the new smoking.”

Staying active is a proven way to achieve excellent health, maintain a positive outlook, and control weight. In addition to physical exercise, it is equally important to keep the mind active and productive. Learning and exercise should be a lifelong endeavor.

In my practice, I recommend that my patients try to fit in at least 30 minutes of exercise a day which can include walking and stretching. It is important to take breaks from sitting at the desk every hour to move and stretch in some capacity. To maintain a healthy mind, I recommend reading, learning a new hobby, or doing a simple crossword puzzle or other brain games.

Feel well, live healthy…perform better!

Dr. Adam K. Pitsinger

For The Register-Herald

Dr. Pitsinger practices at Preble County Chiropractic.

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