We all know smoking cigarettes is the cause of so many preventable, deadly diseases. Research shows sitting for long stretches of time may be just as dangerous. Several studies indicate prolonged sitting is now being linked to increased risk of heart disease, obesity, diabetes, cancer, and even early death.

Is sitting really the new smoking? This sounds extreme, but think about what happens in the body when you sit for longer than a two consecutive hours; your body goes into storage mode. When that happens, it stops working as effectively as it should. Your blood flow significantly decreases, metabolism slows down, and your posture is negatively affected. The more hours a day you sit, the greater your likelihood of developing one or more of these diseases, just as with smoking.

So, what can you do to reduce your risk?

GET UP and MOVE as often as you can!

Take a break every two hours, even better, take walking breaks whenever possible. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. If you work at a desk, don’t send emails when you can deliver the message in person, take a call while standing up – try balancing on one leg at a time. Get a standing desk and be upright for at least half of your workday. By standing, you keep your metabolism working up to 20% more efficiently than when you are seated.

Any time you get moving you stimulate blood flow and circulation. Which stimulates the organs to stay active and do the things that keep you alive and well.