Prolonged Sitting

What are the health implications of prolonged sitting?

There are a few health concerns that can be linked to prolonged sitting. As explained by the Mayo Clinic and the World Health Organisation this includes a cluster of conditions that make up metabolic syndrome, including:

Increased blood pressure
Excess visceral fat and
Abnormal cholesterol levels
High blood sugar and insulin resistance

It is observed that prolonged sitting also seems to increase the risk of death from cardiovascular disease and cancer. For further reading see Mayo Clinic

The below article looks at the impact prolonged sitting may have specifically on your blood pressure.

Neurological link

Studies have shown there is a neurological link between poor posture and increased blood pressure.
As your posture becomes more forward and slouched this puts more pressure on the heart and lungs, therefore, making them work harder than they need to.
Neuroscientists at the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom reported in 2007 that neck muscle cells signal the brain when sensing movement in the neck, possibly ensuring adequate blood supply as the body changes posture. The system, however, breaks down when cells incur damage from poor posture, resulting in blood pressure either higher or lower than optimum.

Poor posture?

The human body is designed to be upright and not engage in prolonged sitting. As a consequence of our increase in sedentary behavior, our bodies become more forward, this will erode our health on a daily basis. This can be anything from slouching at a computer or laptop, curling your spine over your iPhone, or spending too much time in a recliner or soft couch.

If you have a sedentary job or spend most of your day engaging in any of the above activities you may be at risk of undesirable conditions including high blood pressure. Speaking to your health expert is the next step you can take, as they can provide advice on how to make positive lifestyle changes.

Take action

There are a range of reasons why your posture can become more forward or slouched and it is important to address them. Apart from seeing a healthcare practitioner, there are lifestyle changes you can make to address poor posture. The Straighten Up App is a great tool to help promote better posture habits. This app is an initiative of the Australian Chiropractors Association and can be found here https://chiropractors.asn.au/straighten-up-app

Contact us

You can call either our Crows Nest or North Sydney chiropractic clinic to speak to a licenced practitioner who may help you on the journey toward better posture.
North Sydney phone number: (02) 9955 8055
Crows Nest phone number: (02) 9460 8459
Email us at info@spineandhealth.com.au

Here are the references to the above-mentioned research studies:

[1] The Neurochemically Diverse Intermedius Nucleus of the Medulla as a Source of Excitatory and Inhibitory Synaptic Input to the Nucleus Tractus SolitariiIan

[2] J. Edwards, Mark L. Dallas, Sarah L. Poole, Carol J. Milligan, Yuchio Yanagawa, Gábor Szabó, Ferenc Erdélyi, Susan A. Deuchars, Jim Deuchars

[3] Journal of Neuroscience 1 August 2007, 27 (31) 8324-8333; DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0638-07.2007

November 14, 2019November 14, 2019

Posture and breathing

Can you better one without the other?

This blog post on posture and breathing has been written by Dr. James Zheng. He is one of our Chiropractors from our Crows Nest Chiropractic centre. He talks of the significance of our breathing along with the impact it can have on your posture. If reading this article raises any concerns with your posture and breathing please contact your chiropractor, or health care practitioner.

The way we breathe can impact our whole body, as it helps to regulate vital body functions such as heart rate and blood pressure. It can also reinforce proper body mechanics that put less stress on our bodies as we move.

Breathing pattern dysfunction

Poor posture can lead to breathing pattern dysfunction. This is most commonly seen in people who spend long hours sitting each day. Rounded shoulders and a forward head posture cause the muscles around the chest to tighten and also depress your sternum. That tightening and depression limits the ability of the rib cage to expand and causes people to take more rapid, shallow breaths.

Research on posture and breathing

Research 1. has shown that people with ongoing neck pain or sore/ stiff neck muscles have difficulty using their lungs and respiratory system to their full capacity. Research 1. can be seen below

Pulmonary Function of Patients with Chronic Neck Pain: A Spirometry Study, Zacharias Dimitriadis, Eleni Kapreli, Nikolaos Strimpakos, Jacqueline Oldham, Respiratory Care Apr 2014, 59 (4) 543-549; DOI: 10.4187/respcare.01828

Contact us

If you have ongoing neck pain, sore neck muscles or you think you need to focus more on your posture and breathing to help better your posture, please contact us.

You can call either our Crows Nest or North Sydney chiropractic clinic.

North Sydney phone number: (02) 9955 8055

Crows Nest phone number: (02) 9460 8459

Email us at info@spineandhealth.com.au

March 26, 2019March 26, 2019

Osteoporosis and Bone health part 2 – This article focuses on other lifestyle factors and the role they play in bone health for youth.

Bone Health and Youth.

Our last blog spoke of the importance of nutrition to maximise Bone Health and help prevent Osteoporosis or Metabolic bone disease. Today we will outline other factors such as lifestyle and activity, especially for youth.

Building bones in early life.

For optimal Bone Health, the most crucial time to lay down the foundations of our bones is in the years before we reach our mid-twenties. As outlined by the International Osteoporosis foundation “Approximately half of our bone mass is accumulated during adolescence.” Our genetics will determine up to 80% of the variability in individuals peak bone mass. Factors such as nutritional intake and physical activity will help develop optimal bone strength.

Calcium and protein-rich nutrition boost bone development.

Getting adequate calcium and protein especially between 9 – 18 years old will help reach adequate Bone Health.

The peak age for bone building for girls in 12.5 years and boys is 14 years.

Getting enough of the sunshine vitamin.

Due to an increasingly indoor lifestyle, young people often will not get adequate amounts of vitamin D. Parents can help children maintain a healthy level of this key vitamin. This is done by ensuring children spend more time outdoors playing and being physical, rather than inside on screens. The recommended daily dose of Vit D is 800-1000IU daily.

According to the Institute of Medicine (IOM)USA, the recommended daily intake of key nutrients is as follows:

1 – 3 years

700mg calcium and 13g of protein

4 – 8 years

1000mg calcium and 19g of protein

9 – 13 years

1300mg calcium and 34g of protein

14 – 18 years

1300mg calcium and 46g of protein for girls and 52g of protein for boys

Exercise and lifestyle matter.

Physical activity is most important for youth to enhance bone density as young people who exercise regularly show a significant increase in bone mass. However physical activity and diet work hand in hand for people of all ages to enhance bone development.

All information from this information article was sourced from the International Osteoporosis Foundation. You can find more details on the below link. If you have questions about your child’s bone health please contact your local general practitioner or chiropractor for more information.

http://www.iofbonehealth.org/

Category: Articles

Prolonged Sitting

What are the health implications of prolonged sitting?

Neurological link

Poor posture?

Take action

Contact us

Posture and breathing

Can you better one without the other?

Breathing pattern dysfunction

Research on posture and breathing

Contact us

Osteoporosis and Bone health part 2 – This article focuses on other lifestyle factors and the role they play in bone health for youth.

Bone Health and Youth.

Our last blog spoke of the importance of nutrition to maximise Bone Health and help prevent Osteoporosis or Metabolic bone disease. Today we will outline other factors such as lifestyle and activity, especially for youth.

Building bones in early life.

Calcium and protein-rich nutrition boost bone development.

Getting enough of the sunshine vitamin.

1 – 3 years

4 – 8 years

9 – 13 years

14 – 18 years

Exercise and lifestyle matter.

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North sydney clinic

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