As you read this article, you are probably sitting down, right? For many of us, it is a way of life. We sit all day at work, sit in the vehicle on the ride to and from the office, sit in front of the television to relax and the list continues. It seems as if all we do is sit. Well, now is the time to stand up and do something about it. Stop sitting around, and start moving.
People who spend the majority of their day sitting on their bums are prone to certain types of cancer that might not otherwise plague them. Spending too much of your day in a sedentary position can lead to a number of different health problems. From blood clots to heart disease, high blood sugar, an increased waistline, poor physical functions and potentially death, the list of health problems is quite extensive.
What cancers are linked to leading a sedentary lifestyle?
While not every type of cancer is linked to a sedentary lifestyle, endometrial and colon cancer top the list. Those who spend the majority of their day sitting have a 24 percent increase in getting colon cancer when compared to those who spent most of their day up and moving about. Sure, not every job is going to allow you to move about, but you can get up for a few minutes during the day to stretch your legs and move around. Keeping the circulation going is key.
Just how dangerous is the television?
Who doesn’t like to sit in front of the television and watch their favorite shows after a long day at work? Just about all of us wants some down time to relax and unwind from the stress of everyday life. However, that doesn’t mean we should sit there glued to the television for the majority of the day. Spending hours glued to the television can increase your chances of getting colon cancer by 54 percent.
One of the reasons why your chance of developing cancer increases when you sit and watch so much television is because people tend to consume a variety of unhealthy drinks and snacks while they watch their favorite shows. After all, who can sit in front of the television without having a delicious treat to fill their stomach at the same time? While some of us can refrain from sweet snacks and sugary drinks, most of us fall prey to this trap each and every time.
Start Cutting Your Chances of Getting Cancer
For every additional two hours you spend sitting on your backside, you are increasing your chance of getting endometrial cancer by 10 percent and colon cancer by 8 percent. Even if you do spend some time at the gym, you counteract the positive effects of exercise by sitting down for the rest of the day. Just because you exercise on a regular basis, it won’t counteract all of the negative effects that come from being a couch potato the rest of the time.
Instead of sitting around all day and doing nothing, you need to get up and start moving around. Try to move as much as possible during the day, even if you do have a job sitting behind a desk. There is always something you can do to keep the blood flowing and your heart pumping. In doing so, your chance of suffering from cancer will dramatically decrease.