You sit a lot. That's not a question. It's a fact. You sit at your desk, you sit at your computer, and you even sit in the car when you're on your way to work. But how much does all that sitting affect your health?

What diseases can sitting cause?

First, sitting is associated with an increased risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease and premature death.

Second, many studies have shown that people who sit the most have higher levels of chronic disease risk factors compared to those who sit the least. For example

Sitting for more than 8 hours per day has been linked to a 60% increase in the risk of type 2 diabetes compared to those who sit for less than 4 hours per day.

Sitting for more than 8 hours per day has been associated with higher triglyceride levels (a type of fat in the blood), which is a strong predictor of heart disease and stroke risk.

Sitting for more than 8 hours per day has been linked to increased risk of obesity (especially around the waist) and weight gain over time.

Sitting for long periods increases insulin resistance (the body's inability to use insulin properly), which is a key factor in diabetes development.

Is sitting linked to back pain?

It's certainly possible that sitting can lead to back pain — especially if you sit for long periods at work or while watching TV at home. But it's also possible that people who suffer from back pain might be more likely to sit around all day rather than exercise or otherwise move around.

In other words: You may not get back pain from sitting at work; instead, it could be due to poor posture while sitting down or improper lifting techniques that strain your back muscles and ligaments over time (and leave you feeling stiff and sore).

If you have been dealing with back and neck pain that does not go away, it would be best to consider visiting a proven neurosurgeon in Brisbane. Any problem will be easier to fix if it is detected in time.

If you cannot avoid sitting for a long time during the day, you should try some preventive methods that will be helpful:

Proper posture while sitting

The most important thing to remember is to keep your feet flat on the floor, back straight, head in line with your spine, shoulders relaxed and arms at a 90 degree angle to your body.

Wrist position. Your hands should be placed level with the keyboard as you type so that you don't hunch over or slouch down into an awkward position.

Treating carpal tunnel syndrome if it occurs due to overuse of computers and other devices such as tablets or mobile phones by regularly stretching fingers and wrists between key strokes can help prevent CTS from getting worse over time.

Stand, walk or do stretching every few hours

• Stand up straight and place your hands at your sides.
• Lift your right knee until it is parallel to the floor, then lower it again. Repeat with the left knee. Do this 10 times each side, alternating between the two as fast as possible while maintaining good posture and control over what part of your body is moving (you don't want to just flail around).
• Stand with feet shoulder width apart and arms outstretched at a 45-degree angle from body; palms facing inward toward each other, elbows bent slightly and arms held parallel to the floor (or in front of you, if it's more comfortable). Turn both feet inward so that toes point away from one another; keep knees straight but relaxed, lift heels slightly off ground by bending ankles until calves are parallel with floor for about 20 seconds before returning back down on heels again for another 20 seconds or so - repeat this 10 times total per set!
• Sit on a chair or bench with legs extended flat against floor beneath you (not crossed), hands behind head with elbows pointing outward

Exercise after work

After a day of sitting, you're going to want to do something to reduce the negative effects of your sedentary lifestyle. Exercise after work is a great way to relax your muscles and reduce stress levels. It also helps lower blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and body fat over time—all things that can lead to heart disease if left unchecked.

So take some time for yourself after work by heading outside for a jog or even doing some stretches on your couch! You'll feel better in no time at all!

Get up and grab a glass of water

As you can see, just by standing up, you can prevent dehydration, back pain, muscle cramps and eye strain. But what about the other health problems associated with too much sitting? Let's look at those next.

Stand up for meetings

A lot of the health risks associated with too much sitting are related to circulation and blood flow, so it's important to move around as much as possible. This can be difficult if you're just sitting in one place all day, but there are ways to combat this problem: Stand up for meetings! If a meeting is scheduled for an hour or longer, try having each person take turns standing during the meeting. That way, everyone gets a chance to stretch their legs and get their blood pumping again. For shorter meetings (30 minutes or less), consider setting a timer so that everyone knows when it's time to stand up again.

To help reduce the negative health effects of prolonged sitting, it's important to incorporate regular physical activity into your daily routine and try to sit less throughout the day. Some simple ways to do this include taking regular breaks to stand up and stretch, going for a walk during lunch breaks, and using a standing or treadmill desk.