Flip through any health-related magazine or website, and you’re bound to see articles touting the dangers of a sedentary lifestyle. But excessive standing can also take a toll on your health.
Flip through any health-related magazine or website, and you’re bound to see articles touting the dangers of a sedentary lifestyle. Scientists have found that people who sit for prolonged periods, whether at home or at work, increase their risk of premature death. One major health risk is that blood can start to pool in the legs after just 1 hour of sitting, which prevents sufficient blood flow to the heart. The consequences of sitting too long include poor circulation, heart disease, and joint pain. While the adverse effects of sitting apply to people who exercise regularly, the effect is more profound for those who exercise little or not at all.
And what about those who stand all day, such as doctors, nurses, and family nurse practitioners? Are they also vulnerable to health problems?
The fact is that excessive standing can also take a serious toll on your health. In a recent study, researchers discovered that prolonged standing at work can trigger a number of serious health complications, including leg cramps, joint problems, and significant long-term fatigue once the workday concludes. According to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, working in a standing position on a regular basis can lead to varicose veins, low back pain, neck and shoulder stiffness, leg swelling, and sore feet. This can be attributed to the muscular effort required to keep the body in an upright position, which restricts blood supply to the muscles. This lack of blood flow hastens the onset of fatigue and causes discomfort in key muscle groups in the back, legs, and neck.
Sustained standing on the job can also contribute to chronic venous disorders, increased risk of stroke, preterm birth and miscarriage, and degenerative damage to spinal joints.
What Can Be Done to Mitigate the Risk?
The good news is that your occupation doesn’t have to define your health. There are steps you can take to combat the issues that arise from too much sitting or standing. Of course, it's important to consult your medical provider to determine an approach that’s right for you.
For Sitters (eg information technology professionals, writers, drivers, administrative assistants)
The key to mitigating the hazards of sitting is moving your body more to disrupt the stagnation.
For Standers (eg doctors, family nurse practitioners, teachers, wait staff, hairdressers)
Like with sitting, experts recommend frequent breaks—every 30 minutes or so—to help temper the negative impact of prolonged standing.
Whether your profession keeps you on your toes or parked in front of a computer screen, simply adding movement to your day can have profound benefits, including more energy and weight loss. Employers can also do their part by implementing practices like ergonomic workstations and regular rest periods, and by limiting activities that require staff to bend, stretch, or twist in an extreme manner. Together, we can create more body-friendly workplaces that positively impact the health of workers everywhere.
Navigating Health Literacy, Social Determinants, and Discrimination in National Health Plans
February 13th 2024On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with the authors of a study published in the February 2024 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care® about their findings on how health plans can screen for health literacy, social determinants of health, and perceived health care discrimination.
Listen
Similar In-Hospital, Long-Term Survival Rates Found Among Male, Female Patients With AECOPD
March 18th 2024This study analyzed sex differences among patients with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD), with findings indicating that female smokers experience worse hospital outcomes despite similar overall survival rates.
Read More
Drs Raymond Thertulien, Joseph Mikhael on Racial Disparities in Multiple Myeloma Care Access
December 28th 2023In the wake of the 2023 American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting and Exposition, Raymond Thertulien, MD, PhD, of Novant Health, and Joseph Mikhael, MD, MEd, FRCPC, FACP, chief medical officer of the International Myeloma Foundation, discussed health equity research highlights from the meeting and drivers of racial disparities in multiple myeloma outcomes.
Listen
AstraZeneca joins efforts to address high drug prices by capping out-of-pocket costs for its inhalers; Opill, the first OTC birth control pill, is now accessible through online sales; expansion prompts questions on the effectiveness and regulation of remote monitoring technology.
Read More