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AZUZ: Is it true that the more time you spend sitting, the less time you`ll spend living?
A
new study published this week in the "Annals of Internal Medicine"
suggests long periods of sitting down are a risk factor for early death,
even if you exercise. Of course, many Americans aren`t doing enough of
that either. More than 80 percent of adults are estimated to fall short
of
strength training twice a week and getting at least two and a half hours of aerobic activity weekly.
But
if the sitting is making things worse, there is a silver lining. The
study found that people who take a break, to move around every 30
minutes have the lowest risk of early death. It`s a wake up call for all
of us to get on our feet.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUBTITLE: Sitting can kill you.
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT:
I have sat more than just about anybody else. In fact, I was
calculating this the other day, just based on my travel alone, I have
traveled enough to have circumnavigated the Earth a hundred times. And I
know that sitting can be really bad for you.
We humans did not
evolve to be sitting creatures. We evolve to be naturally moving all day
long. In fact, some people have called sitting the new smoking.
One
of the big concern is something known as DVT, deep venous thrombosis.
Think of these clots that are forming in the deep veins of your legs,
the blood is just not moving very well. There`s where the clots start to
form. That can be painful to your leg.
Your best bet if you`re
forced to sit is to try and get the blood moving. Simply moving some
exercise of your legs, spinning your feet around to actually get the
blood flowing. Make sure to drink plenty of water. And if you can, get
up and walk around.
That`s your best bet to live to a hundred.