This blog is a guest post by Ruby Joanne
Despite the barrage of fitness influencers and wellness coaches on our social media feeds, unhealthy habits still persist in America. According to a CDC report, only 23 percent of Americans spend enough time exercising for it to have a positive impact on their lives. This is especially alarming since this means that the majority of the population is at risk of developing health conditions associated with an inactive lifestyle.
On top of this, the prevalence of unhealthy food and inaccessibility of nutritious options is also causing obesity rates to skyrocket in recent years. Combined with lack of exercise, this makes for a truly harmful combination for men and women in America.
While these statistics are indeed disturbing, various health organizations and institutions have been ramping up their capabilities to treat health issues due to sedentary lifestyles. This has led to a demand in specialists, especially at a nursing level, who have expertise in this area of healthcare, and one way this demand is being met is through online BSN courses. Nurses who pursue an online RN to BSN degree are qualified to not only work in hospitals and practices, but also home healthcare settings where they will be able to advise and treat those with sedentary related health issues. Yet while this assistance may help a select few it is a macro-solution, as well as being a costly solution. On the individuals' side, it's equally important to do their part in promoting a healthy lifestyle. They can start by staying educated on the harmful effects of being sedentary or inactive. Here are a few risks to be aware of.
Obesity
Like we mentioned, you become more prone to becoming overweight or obese because of physical inactivity. Since you cannot burn a significant amount of calories from staying still, your metabolism will be affected and your body won’t be able to break down sugars and fats properly. Not making an effort to keep your weight down by staying active increases your risk for high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. For this reason, it's important to monitor your weight regularly. That way, you can tell whether your exercise regimen is working and be aware of weight gains that could possibly snowball into another health issue.
Heart Disease
Everyone knows that the heart is also a muscle. As such, it needs exercise to stay healthy and function properly. Lack of cardio workouts can lead to poor circulation, raise your risk for cardiovascular disease, and make you more prone to high blood pressure. You don't need to sign up to a fancy gym to do cardio exercises. Many cardio exercises such as jumping jacks, jogging, and swimming don't require any complicated equipment.
Mental Health Problems
A sedentary lifestyle can negatively impact your mental health. Indeed, studies show that an inactive lifestyle increases your risk of developing mental health problems — such as anxiety and depression. This may lead to an especially dangerous cycle that's hard to get out of, as physical inactivity is often a marker of depression in various age groups. If you're worried about your mental health, it's best to set an appointment with professionals such as psychiatric therapists or counselors. These mental health professionals can help you work through your mental health issues and guide you to a healthier lifestyle.
diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when your blood glucose is too high and your body fails to make enough insulin. As a result, glucose fails to reach the cells in your body and cannot be used for energy. Your risk for diabetes increases if you fail to maintain a healthy lifestyle. On top of integrating exercise into your daily routine, you need to avoid sitting still for too long — as this can further increase your risk of developing diabetes. Aside from having an active lifestyle, be sure to limit your intake of sugars and refined carbohydrates as these can put you on the fast track to developing diabetes.
Muscle Weakness
One of the most common causes of muscle weakness is lack of use or deconditioning. If you fail to exercise and keep yourself moving, the fibers within your muscles will be partially replaced with fat. This means that muscle wasting will occur. Through regular and sensible exercising, you can quickly reverse this condition and gain back the muscles and strength you’ve lost. To build muscle, you can consult with a fitness instructor who can craft the best exercise routine that's fit for your lifestyle and capabilities.
In general, it’s important to engage in a healthy and active lifestyle if you want to live your life to the fullest. So why not start now? If you want to learn more on how to stay healthy, improve your sleep, or keep yourself productive at home, be sure to have a look around our blog.
Article authored by Ruby Joanne
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