Do You Have A Desk Job?

Believe it or not, sitting for long periods of time is actually associated with higher mortality rates and health issues. Which means unless you’re intentional about it, your desk job is harming your health.

Here are ten ways you could be harming yourself by sitting all day in front of a computer:

1. Poor posture can lead to musculoskeletal pain. Women with larger busts have a hard time maintaining upright posture at a desk job, and this leads to quicker fatigue and eventually a loss of proper posture.
2. Poor posture leads to changes in the hormones. When the body has poor posture, the stress hormone, cortisol, can increase in production, while testosterone may decrease. These changes affect your mind and how you function.
3. Sitting at a desk all day commonly leads to neck pain. Neck pain can lead to headaches and excessive curves in the mid-spine and lower end of the neck.
4. Poor posture and breathing problems go hand in hand. Poor posture limits the ability of the lungs to expand, which leads to fatigue and concentration issues.
5. Sitting for long periods of time can lead to weight gain. This is due in part to the body’s metabolism and circulation slowing down, which leads to fewer calories being burned and reduced fat breakdown.
6. Sitting for long periods of time can lead to muscle and back issues. Women may experience muscles in the hips and hamstrings tightening, as well as a weaker back and abdominal muscles.
7. Sitting for long periods of time leads to reduced blood circulation in the legs. This can lead to varicose veins and swollen ankles.
8. Reduced activity and osteoporosis are linked. A lack of movement during the majority of the day can lead to weakening bones and disc degeneration.
9. The mind can become foggy. Sitting all day can lead to a drop in the mood and a loss of clarity in the brain.
10. Staring at a computer all day can contribute to skin conditions. The Ultraviolet radiation emitted from some computer screens and office lighting can irritate skin conditions like rosacea and lupus, and contribute to skin damage and aging.

So take a break from your sitting lifestyle! Get up each hour and walk around; take a 20 minute walk during your lunch break; hold “standing” meetings instead of moving to a new room to sit in yet another chair. Even these small adjustments can make a big impact in your overall health.