8 Health Dangers Of Sedentary Lifestyle

By Pooja Kaushal

Saturday, March 28, 2015, 12:02 [IST]

With modernization the lifestyle of man has got a serious battering. No doubt development has been made in the field of science and technology, means of communication could not have been any better. But does one understand the dangers of sedentary lifestyle? Well, lets find out today in this article.

Appliances have been invented to do chores with the least of efforts and means of recreation have multiplied. With so many facilities life has become luxurious, so luxurious that we have forgotten to take care of our lives and ignoring the health hazards of sedentary life style.

Childhood Diabetes Linked To Sedentary Lifestyle

The purpose of development was to improve living standards, bring about ease in working and make life more fulfilling. Sadly quite the opposite has happened and diseases once rare are becoming more common than ever before.

The health hazards of sedentary lifestyle are not only affecting adults but also children.

These are no ordinary diseases but ones that can prove to be fatal or capable of crippling life permanently. Take a look at some of the diseases that a sedentary makes us prey to.

Increased Risk Of Cardiac Arrest

Sit for long hours and face high blood pressure and increased cholesterol. There is less body fat burned and blood flow is rather sluggish often leading to buildup of clogged arteries and eventually a cardiac arrest.

Increased Risk Of Cancers

The exact reasons for cancers may not be known but a sedentary lifestyle is seen as one of the causes, especially in cases of colon and breast cancer. Cancer is seen as one of the dangers of sedentary lifestyle as increasing number of evidences are showing up.

Strained Neck

One of the reasons for leading a sedentary lifestyle can be attributed to the many kinds of screens we stare at - television, computers, tablets and smartphones. All these devices require us to position our necks and shoulders in a particular manner leading to a lot of strain.

Extended periods spent with these devices leaves us with painful necks often leading to spondylosis.

Bad Back

When the shoulders and neck are strained the back is not spared. Prolonged hours of sitting leave the spinal cord severely stressed and give a very bad back in the long run.

Muscle Degeneration

The posture of the body varies when standing and sitting. Having a balance of both keeps the spine and muscles functioning in proper order. When sitting for long hours the back muscles are left tight while the abdominal muscles become soft. This leads to an improper posture with a curved back.

Obesity

Obesity is seen as a major danger in the present times. One basic cause linked to obesity is lack of physical activity. The health hazards of sedentary lifestyle can be seen in the young generation which is showing increased cases of obesity.

Depression

Sedentary lifestyle cannot be directly linked to depression but a connection is being witnessed in recent cases. An inactive lifestyle leads to lethargy and slows down the functioning of the brain.

Muscles do not move thereby restricting the supply of fresh blood and oxygen to the brain. This could lead to slowing down of brain functioning and gradually build up to a condition of depression.

Peripheral Vascular Disease

A peripheral vascular disease is the restriction of blood supply to a particular body part. Besides the other factors responsible for the condition a sedentary lifestyle is also the cause. The body parts most likely to be affected are the legs, kidneys and in some cases the arms.