BY JOYCE WONG JIN YI
ACCORDING to a survey that evaluated sedentary lifestyles, nine out of ten Malaysian spend more than half of their waking hours sitting (at least six hours a day) at their desk. Long, uninterrupted periods of sitting, whether you are sitting at a desk, behind the wheel, or in front of a screen, can be harmful and health hazards.
Research has linked sitting for long periods with several health concerns. They include an increased risk of metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and heart diseases. Another research found that the risk of dying for those who sat for more than eight hours a day is similar to those who smoke and are obese. That is why the new phrase is: Sitting is the new smoking!
Sitting for long periods can weaken and waste away the gluteal muscles. These muscles are important for walking and stabilizing. When you sit, your calf muscles are not contracting to help propel spent blood in the veins back to the heart. This can reduce blood flow by up to two-thirds in the legs. A thrombus is more likely to form when blood collects in the blood vessels of the legs. When the thrombus breaks free, it can cause a pulmonary embolism.
