A sedentary lifestyle causes so many health issues that doctors commonly refer to it as the sitting disease. Some 40 to 50 million Americans are shortening their lifespans by just sitting or lying down too much and not doing enough physical activity. Most adults admit their after-work habits include watching TV, reading books, playing video games or browsing on their mobile phones or computers. What’s worse is that children are imitating their parents and developing these unhealthy habits.
Health risks from too little exercise are just as deadly as smoking, with more deaths each year from sitting disease than from cigarettes. Your muscles, especially your back muscles, atrophy, leading to a host of back aches and pain. Lower back pain is the most common complaint as a result.
Health Deterioration
Studies show that sitting still for less than 30 minutes causes damage to the body and blood vessels. In America alone, 300,000 deaths occur annually because of inactivity and poor eating habits. If you don’t move much, most of the food you eat becomes fat, leading to obesity issues, which carries its own health risks. For example, extra weight puts pressure on your spine, hips and legs.
Other health risks from too little exercise include:
- Decrease in muscle mass, especially in your back
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol levels
- Increased blood sugar levels
- Lower back pain
- Eye problems, especially for those glued to their mobile phones or computers
- Osteoporosis
- Erectile dysfunction
- Infertility
- Certain types of cancer
- Coronary heart disease
- Cardiovascular diseases
Physical Health Risks from Too Little Exercise
If you’ve let yourself go in an effort to relax and de-stress after work, you’re not alone. But if you’re starting to feel the physical effects, you need to seek help. Back pain can creep up on you if you’re aware of it. Soon, you’re having trouble sleeping, pulling yourself up out of a chair and experiencing leg cramps just walking up a flight of stairs.
Back pain rarely goes away on its own, but it’s never too late (and never too early) to seek medical assistance and advice. Your issues may be relieved with more exercise, or you may need a non-invasive procedure to correct what’s wrong. Consult a spine specialist like those at the Southeastern Spine Institute (SSI) to help counter your sedentary lifestyle.
A Hinderance to Your Job
Every year, a million Americans complain about back pain caused by their jobs. Having excess weight around your waist and stomach can put you at a greater risk for work-related injuries. Additionally, being overweight can cause leg cramps, fatigue, medical illnesses like diabetes and other serious health scares.
Inactivity at work and at home leads to a greater chance of developing some form of debilitating disease. Lower back pain is the leading cause of disability in the American labor force. To combat the ill effects of back pain, talk to your doctor about all the health risks from too little exercise. And if you’re already suffering from a backache due to your sedentary lifestyle, then consult a back specialist for treatment and lifestyle guidance. Contact SSI.