We spend most our waking hours sitting down. Think about it – we sit at the breakfast table, while commuting back and forth, while at the office… even when we wind down in front of the TV after work. We basically sit our way through daily life.
Well, there are big problems with that. Sure, it takes a lot of weight off our feet, but remember that our abdominal and back muscles tend to compensate for the lack of support our bodies are getting. Bad sitting posture can lead to several serious health problems in addition to the usual backaches and stiff necks.
How?
Basically, sitting in the wrong position causes our abdominal and back muscles to get tense and inactive. Now take note: these muscles are exactly the ones that are supposed to keep our body in balance. Weak muscles in these areas may open the door to several lifelong health concerns.
When these muscles don’t do the job as well as they’re supposed to, other muscles in the body are forced to take over. These muscles include the ones that control our breathing – especially the diaphragm muscles – which results in less efficient breathing. This, in turn, leaves our bodies starved for oxygen.
Worse, poor sitting posture also causes the neck muscles to stiffen up – and with them, connected muscles (such as the jaw and throat muscles) also get stiff. This leads to tension and blockages in the veins that bring oxygen-rich blood to the brain.
If you’ve been reading my blog for a long time, you’ll know what lack of oxygen can lead to.
Fibromyalgia, which the medical world currently doesn’t have a known cause or cure for, is actually caused by a shortage of oxygen in the muscles.
Headaches and migraines are caused by the lack of oxygen reaching the tissues and muscles around the head.
The tension in the neck leaves the brain starved for oxygen, and often supports your head in a slightly askew way. This, I’ve realized, is the leading cause for vertigo and dizziness – it basically stems from the compromised balance system between our eyes and ears.
Hypertension, TMJ, snoring, sleep apnea, obesity… the list goes on. Often, one of these illnesses leads to many of the others, perpetuating a vicious cycle.
All because of sitting the wrong way!
If you think you’re suffering from one of the abovementioned illnesses, do yourself a favor and click on one of the links on the upper-right corner of this website. You’ll learn more about proper postures, as well as simple exercises, that free you from the pain and discomfort these illnesses may be causing – for good.
Warm regards,
Christian Goodman