Who doesn’t want to decrease their risk of stroke, dementia, and death at a young age? Isn’t that why you’re reading this?
You may already know that 75 minutes of high intensity aerobic activity each week reduces your risk of diabetes, obesity, and many other chronic diseases. One hundred fifty, 150, minutes of moderate intensity activity will do the same. High intensity activities include running, biking, and swimming. Brisk walking counts as a moderate intensity activity.
You should also know that prolonged sitting is bad, bad, bad. A study published in January showed that people who spent much of the day sitting, (commuting, in class, working at a computer, watching TV), were more likely to have serious health problems. The effect was worst in those who never exercised, or rarely exercised. But for those who exercised regularly, sitting more still resulted in negative health outcomes. Even exercising for one hour a day didn’t counteract prolonged sitting.
Previous research has already shown that the longer you sit, the higher your risk of dying from heart disease and many other non-cancer causes of death. Do you sit for two hours watching television? If so, you’re more likely to be obese, and/or have diabetes.
So what should you do? Certainly standing would be an improvement. However standing is a low intensity activity, and that alone will not result in any significant benefit. But getting up and moving around will. As it turns out, even a light intensity activity, like casual walking, for a few minutes every hour will reduce your risk of death. You can walk around your home or office. Just don’t take all your walks to the kitchen or break room looking for snacks!
Every Day…..Say NO To Stroke!
AB Fraser, MD
