Sitting inactive for long hours can cause heart diseases: Doctors

Some of the other factors responsible for developing heart diseases include smoking, lack of sleep, high blood cholesterol, diabetes, diets that are high in fat combined with carbohydrates, physical inactivity, drinking too much alcohol, stress and air pollution. However, stating that the main reason is the lack of any movement, Dr Sanjiv Agarwal, Senior Consultant Interventional Cardiologist, Fortis Malar Hospital, said, “Insulin secretion depends on our blood glucose levels. When you sit for long hours at a stretch, the body cells are desensitised, and they develop insulin resistance. Hence, the body cells fail to respond to the insulin as much as they should.”

This results in the secretion of more and more insulin. “Even though there is adequate insulin, our body fails to realise and secretes a lot of insulin, which eventually leads to the metabolic syndrome,” he stated.

Research has linked sitting inactive for long hours with a number of health concerns including increase in risk of death from cardio vascular disease. Studies have revealed that bus drivers have twice the chance of experiencing a heart attack compared to their conductor colleagues. “Most people sit for long hours at work – between 10 and 12 hours. What they should however do is get off their comfortable seats every one hour and move around,” said Dr S Kumar, a Cardiologist.

Adding to this, he said that our terrible eating habits only makes matters worse for our body. “We have been seeing a drastic increase in the number of people coming forward with heart diseases. This includes a large number of youngsters in their thirties. Even though there is no actual study to depict this increase, doctors have been seeing the rise.”

Dr Agarwal alleged that they see a minimum of two patients in their thirties with heart diseases on a monthly basis. “Earlier, people in their forties could not imagine having any complaints of heart ailment. However, today, 10 per cent of people with heart diseases are below the age of 40. This will continue to increase unless we correct ourselves,” he opined.

Stating that vigorous workout is not essential, Dr Kumar opined, “The only problem is the long hours without any movement. Taking a walk every hour is the best solution to this problem. The lack of any exercise cause blocks which can lead to heart attacks. It is important that every individual indulges in some form of exercise. It has been documented that siting for long hours could prove to be more dangerous than diabetes.”