Health & Wellness SPECIAL SECTION
However , there are ways to prevent the negative effects , such as stiffness and poor circulation , of constant sitting :
• Get up and move ! If you find yourself sitting for extended periods of time , you need to break the habit . Schedule an alarm for every 30 minutes to get up and take a lap around your office . Manage your time effectively by going to pick up your paper from the printer or grabbing a glass of water . Even better ? Visit a coworker to talk about a project instead of sending an email .
• Establish proper sitting habits . Keep your back straight , feet at 90 degrees , and eyes level with the top of your computer screen . Make sure your shoulders aren ’ t hunched when resting your elbows on your desk to type .
• Stretch in place . Adding stretching to your daily routine is beneficial for anyone . Stand up and do a few stretches at your desk to get your muscles loosened up and moving . Feeling spunky ? Add a few jumping jacks in to get your heart rate pumping for some extra energy .
• Realize how much sitting you do . Sitting for eight hours at your job has negative effects on your body , but sitting on the couch for the rest of the night doubles those effects , increasing cause for concern . If you have a sedentary job , make a point of taking a walk afterward or spend some time on your feet with your kids or at the gym . Keeping active during breaks and on the weekends will also help combat negative effects from the workweek .
Heart Health — Skip the Sugar !
Heart disease is the # 1 killer of all Americans , but awareness of the disease and its causes have allowed for a decrease in the number of deaths associated with it in recent years . Eating well and exercising are obvious ways to prevent the onset of heart disease , but a recent study by the Journal of the American College of Cardiology looks at another culprit that has damaging
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SEWICKLEY ❘ WINTER 2022 29