I sit 16 hours a day, will I die?
By Ghajini
@Ghajini (776)
Philippines
July 25, 2011 6:48am CST
Well I read an article that said that sitting more than 6 hours a day can increase your risks of dying. It's obvious that a sedentary lifestyle is unhealthy but it's somehow unavoidable especially now, where in you can spend 24 hours in front of your pc just surfing the web.
I came to this rough estimate of 16 hours because let's say I spend 8 hours in school then the remaining 8 hours at home sitting in front of my computer, watching tv, doing homeworks, etc.
It may sound stupid but recently I tried standing as much as possible even when using my computer etc. But I know it's a bad idea because after a few minutes my legs begin to hurt.
Also, they say that even you are a physically active person but spend a lot of hours sitting then you are also not being healthy.
So I decided to do push-ups every hour or any simple physical activity such as standing and stretching. I guess it would somehow be better than sitting continuously for hours.
2 people like this
31 responses
@hexebella (1136)
• Philippines
25 Jul 11
Let me share you what happened to me...I do desk job and a workaholic....i used to work 12-13 hours a day with one hour break and occasionally going to the restroom....this is what I got....a herniated disc in my L3 & L4 lumbar spine, the disc hit my sciatic nerve that gives me pain which I am going to suffer for life....I gave up my job and did not work for 3 years....I was better but the pain is still with me....it is very difficult for me till now as I get back to work again...another worse scenario is during long flights....all the passengers are sleeping and I am standing in one corner......
That physical activity every hour is the same thing I am going to suggest you....not only your body but your eyes as well need to rest.....also put a small pillow on your seat where your lower back could rest, or get a computer chair that has a lumbar support...this would prevent any injury that may arise.
@myfb2009 (8296)
• Malaysia
27 Jul 11
Thanks for sharing your own experience here. It seems that we really needs to get a very good rest apart from having to sit for such a long hours. Even our eyes tends to feel pain if we are to sit in front of the computer for a very long hours.
@garson (884)
• United States
8 Aug 11
If you sit continuously and ignore pain/wound that needs treatment, you could. I know that after sitting down for a while, I would want to get up and move around.
Is it pain or soreness that you experience after standing for few minutes? Is it always like that?
It's good to always mix things up. Normal person would get tired or bored staying at the same position for prolong periods of time.
@myfb2009 (8296)
• Malaysia
27 Jul 11
I must agreed that we shouldn't sit for a very long hours since our body unable to accept that kind of sedentary way of lifestyle. When i was still working before, i had to sit for almost 10 hours a day in front of computer. It caused me having migraine attacks frequently in my daily life. And causes my eyes pains even my back having terrible pain everyday until i have to give-up my job. So, i think it is really unhealthy to sit for a long hours especially in front of computer or tv.
@frontvisions101 (16043)
• Philippines
28 Jul 11
Well, is that continuous sitting or the summation of all the hours you sat the whole day? I work in an office so it's pretty much around 8 hours that I'm sitting a day. That's the summation of the total hours I sit during work only. I haven't included the time when I'm traveling plus the time when I get home and sit in front of the TV.
@koperty3 (1876)
•
27 Jul 11
I have sitting job too but instead of doing nothing to keep my body healthy I started to exercise. I exercise everyday. I started from thirty minutes a day and now I do one hour except Saturdays when I go swimming. Moving will reduce the risk of many serious illness.
@ellebj (784)
• Philippines
26 Jul 11
really? i thought sitting too much will make your buttocks bigger or say wider. Anyway, it is unnatural that a person will not sit for more than six hours.. we have leg strains and our body needs rest while doing something and not all the time, our body is always standing. 6 hours is such a small time.. and what are their evidences that sitting could short your time in this earth.. if that is the case, then children in classroom should be standing while listening to their teacher in classrooms..
@CTHanum (8234)
• Malaysia
26 Jul 11
Hi Ghajini!
Yes, you will get something bad if you can sit without moving at all for 16 hours!!. I am sure every hour you sit there will be time when you will get up and do some other activity right? Like walking, going to restroom and do some stretching. it is advisable to do some light work-out for better blood circulation and your body movement. What you are doing now is correct and you will not die if you sit 16 hours a day along with that routine.
@thatgirl13 (7294)
• South Korea
26 Jul 11
Hey I remember seeing the article after my sister sent it to me. That scared me a lot and I have been trying to not sit these days too but that seems to be next to impossible for me. Even right now as I type I am sitting down and i don't think I can type standing up. Goshh why must life be so hard. The easiest things will only make you unhealthy or sad or stuffs like that geez 
@bikerboy470 (17)
• India
27 Jul 11
You can just join a swimming class.. now you will think am joking ri8 ? swimming give you a physical exercise for you whole boady and refereshes your mind,so sitting more will never affect your health.
@jaynevalmonte (33)
• Philippines
27 Jul 11
I guess all of us benefited from that article; I, too, sit for hours because of work, but thanks to that article, I am starting to get up at least every thirty minutes to walk around or stretch. It would also help if we devote certain amount of time to exercise as well as eat healthy food, something I know I should do as well.
@veravivi (59)
• China
27 Jul 11
What a pity! Let me count my sitting-hours. I work in my office 9 hours a day just sitting. After going home, I spend about 3 hours in front of my computer. It mean I spend about double time over the standard 6 hours.
But there is no alternative. Most of the work should sitting on the chair. So the way to be more health is to do exercise, but not all the people can keep doing it.
@dpk262006 (58676)
• Delhi, India
26 Jul 11
Physical activity is essential and imperative, else it could land us in trouble.
@minniemadz (499)
• Philippines
26 Jul 11
I guess sitting that long would not really matter as long as you couple it with exercise and healthy food in your diet. Also, as much as possible, try not to sit that long continually, stand if you have to. And while sitting, don't slouch, sit tall.
@Cricket127 (548)
• United States
26 Jul 11
Hi! You're right--it's all about choices and what is right for each person. I've decided to become more active too; signed up for a gym and taking 4 classes a week and I just feel better in having done so. I've also picked up some more fruit, drinking more water, and being smarter about sweets. Hopefully in a few weeks, it'll pay off as I would like to drop 20 some-odd pounds!
@Jane_zhang (5)
• China
26 Jul 11
I have neck disk pain out of sitting a long time in front of PC. It upsets me because I am so young. It hit my nerve and sometimes my think is not clear. I went to hospital but nothing can heal it completely. Now I stand up from time to time during working on, stretch muscle, go to swim at the weekends, or other physical activity.
@pierrt (13)
• China
26 Jul 11
I'm very surprised about your situation, it's so long your sitting time, there is no doubt, this way is very harmful your health, so i think you must do something change, such as do more sports,standing more in your working and learning, you can adjust the hight of your computer table,so your standing may be easy and suitable,do it from now on, you will be more healthy,try it!
