Exercise and health

The relationship between exercise and stroke has been studied for quite some time. However, an American Heart Association study explored a new angle: how the amount of time we spend sitting affects health.

The study included 143,180 healthy people with no previous history of stroke, diabetes, or cancer. Those who sat a lot during the day were found to be four times more likely to have a stroke at a young age (under 60). Moreover, how much time they moved the rest of the time did not play a significant role.

This is not the first study that correlates a sedentary lifestyle with poor health. Research by the American Diabetes Association has shown that a sedentary lifestyle provokes not only stroke but also a host of other conditions including metabolic disorders, elevated blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels, and excess visceral fat.

Additionally, a 2018 study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology showed a link between long periods of sitting and mortality.

Why is sitting unhealthy?

Research has found that when you sit, your muscles relax and don't get the right amount of glucose from the blood. As a result, excess glucose in the body causes damage to the blood vessels that supply blood to all vital human organs.

Of course, brain health does not only depend on how much we move. It’s important to be aware of and control other risk factors including quitting smoking, managing diet, and weight, and staying physically active.

02 November 2021