The sitting disease, dubbed “the new smoking,” impairs blood flow in the forearms which can affect the cardiovascular system.
Researchers at the University of Tsukuba have shown that sitting for extended periods – such as at the workplace or at home with videogames – can reduce the ability of the forearm’s blood vessels to widen properly.
This is bad for overall blood flow.
It’s not just the blood vessels in the legs that are impacted by prolonged sitting.
This study looked at how excessive time spent in a chair can interfere with proper blood flow in the forearms.
How the Study Was Done
In this study, 11 healthy young adults remained seated for 75 minutes while researchers applied cycles of heating and cooling to different areas of the forearm.
It was discovered that sitting for this duration (which is quite common) reduced the forearm’s ability to widen blood vessels in response to heat.
But this effect was reduced when alternating heating and cooling were used.
Interestingly, while sitting did not seem to change the forearm’s ability to narrow blood vessels, the heating and cooling treatment still improved that function.
These results suggest that applying cycles of temperature changes to the skin may help support healthy blood vessel function during long periods of sitting.
Practical Solutions
However, applying cycles of temperature changes to the forearms while you’re busy at a computer is hardly practical for combating the sitting disease.
The obvious, and far more practical, solution is to avoid sitting for longer than 75 minutes at a time.
In fact, you should not even stay seated for longer than 60 minutes.
Below are very helpful articles on how to break up your sitting time throughout the day.
Remember, the sitting disease has not been dubbed “the new smoking” for nothing!
Lorra Garrick is a former personal trainer certified by the American Council on Exercise. At Bally Total Fitness, where she was also a group fitness instructor, she trained clients of all ages and abilities for fat loss and maintaining it, muscle and strength building, fitness, and improved cardiovascular and overall health.
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