MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Doctors say sitting for too long can kill you, or at least lead to a host of ailments.
Recent studies show between 50 and 70 percent of Americans spend six or more hours a day sitting; whether it’s at the office, in the car or in front of the TV.
Dr. Eric Tepper, who practices family medicine, says being sedentary can lead to heart disease.
“Heart disease is the number one killer of men and women in the United States,” said Tepper. “It kills more people than all forms of cancer combined.”
According to Tepper, getting up for just a few minutes each hour and moving around can increase your metabolic activity.
“You’re getting more circulation going through your legs. You’re actually using muscles to balance yourself. It’s almost impossible to stand perfectly still. We’re always moving when you’re standing, where when you sit, you’re perfectly still,” he said.
Going to the gym after work sounds like a good way of offsetting sitting all day at the office, but Tepper said it’s not enough.
“Even if you say ‘I take a job for a half an hour a day,’ that doesn’t negate other risk factors,” said Tepper.
So keep in mind, as you are sitting there reading this you could be doing something.
