You may have heard several times that smoking and drinking are detrimental to health. But, there is yet another silent killer on the prowl – physical inactivity. Sitting is the new smoking- experts have quoted. This is a reasonably modern concern, and the health effects of a prolonged sitting/sedentary lifestyle can prove to be lethal.

What is meant by a sedentary lifestyle?

Before we speak about the ill effects of a sedentary lifestyle, we must briefly mention what it means. A sedentary or inactive lifestyle is one with absolutely no physical activity. There is very little energy utility and almost no exercise (none in most cases). Another aspect frequently associated with a sedentary lifestyle is bad eating habits: eating chips, pizza, store-bought sugar drinks and all sorts of junk.  

What has prompted this sedentary behaviour?

Of the many positive changes that have taken place in our generation during the 21st century, one of the negative aspects has been in the form of an emerging and increasing trend in a sedentary lifestyle. Compared to our grandparents or parents, there is a significant decrease in physical activity and an increase in health complications.

Some of the reasons why this inactivity has increased are:

• Rise in desk jobs coupled with emerging technologies in the last few decades, such as laptops and desktops
• An increasing amount of time spent on the phone and social media  
• Hours spent sitting during commute time to work
• Long work hours (being a workaholic)  
• Rise in-home delivery cultures has cut down on people’s need to visit stores physically

Now that we have significantly discussed what a sedentary lifestyle means let us illustrate the effects of physical inactivity on health.

Approximately 2 million deaths per year are attributed to physical inactivity, prompting WHO to issue a warning that a sedentary lifestyle could very well be among the 10 leading causes of death and disability in the world. This raises alarm that one should always be physically active

Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD

1. Obesity

Obesity has struck people across the age spectrum, and it is an ailment that opens up your body to a horde of other illnesses. It is no secret that obesity rates are soaring. Inactivity, coupled with a terrible diet, is to blame.

2. Type 2 Diabetes

Inactivity can make your body resistant to insulin, which makes the body susceptible to diabetes. Diabetes, too, is a lethal disease that will drastically lower your standard of living and, unless kept under check, will prove to be fatal.

3. High Blood Pressure and thickening of blood vessel walls-  

A sedentary lifestyle means you are not getting the exercise your body needs to stay in prime shape. This is when plaque begins to accumulate along your blood vessels. This thickens them, and they further lose their elasticity. That is when blood has to force its way through the narrowed passages, which exerts excessive force on the blood vessels. This results in high blood pressure.  

Read More: Home Remedies for High BP – 3 Things to Do

4. Heart Ailments

The organ that bears most of the brunt of inactivity is the heart. When your blood vessels are narrowed and the heart does not get enough blood, its muscles begin to die gradually. This may trigger a heart attack in the future. Moreover, when you don’t engage in rigorous physical activity, the level of LDL or bad cholesterol spikes, and that has a devastating effect on your heart.

Sitting less, avoiding a sedentary lifestyle and regular moderate to vigorous physical exercise keeps you healthy, improves brain functioning, improves memory and reduces the risk of lifestyle-associated diseases.

Dr. Ashish Bajaj, M.B.B.S., M.D.

Read More: 8 Different Types of Heart Diseases

5. Stroke

This is yet another fall out of inactivity and high blood pressure. Blockage in the blood supply of the brain or bleeding in the region of the brain due to high blood pressure can lead to brain stroke.

It is no new information that sedentary lifestyles have recently become more common, increasing the risk of serious health complications. Hence, it is essential to keep track of the vital parameters to detect any health problem early on. . You can take these below-mentioned tests and assess your health with the help of a doctor-.  

Sedentary Lifestyle Impact Checkup  

A Sedentary Lifestyle Health Checkup is recommended to help assess the damage to your body caused by a lack of physical activity. This package examines your Liver Function, Kidney Function, Lipid Profile, HbA1c, CBC, Cardiac Risk Markers, Vitamin D, and other factors to provide a clear overview of your health.

Sedentary Lifestyle Impact Checkup – Advanced

This package helps determine the damage done to your body due to a lack of physical activity. HOMA-IR test & Cardiac risk markers test are some critical tests that can indicate your risk of heart disease and diabetes. This package tests your Liver Function, Kidney Function, Lipid Profile, HbA1c, Homa Insulin Resistance Index, CBC, Cardiac Risk Markers, Vitamin B12, Vitamin D 25-OH and more to help you get an overview of your health.  

These tests can help your doctor detect any hidden health problem before it progresses and manifests symptoms.  

One way to combat the health risks of a sedentary lifestyle is to work small bits of exercise into your daily routine. Modify your lifestyle and introduce healthier habits like mindful eating and exercising. Few people understand the dangerous effects of a sedentary lifestyle that inactivity poses. No matter how stressed or exhausted you are, take some time for light to medium workout.

Disclaimer: The information included on this site is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional. Because of unique individual needs, the reader should consult their physician to determine the appropriateness of the information for the reader’s situation