1325 Sitting Death

Just when you thought it was safe to go back to the office.
We’ve had lots of health scares regarding the hazards of the workplace. But we always seem to work around them with technology.
Lower back pain was an issue. Solution? Ergonomic chairs. Carpal tunnel was an issue until someone saw the light. Ergonomic keyboards, streamlined mice and wrist braces saved the day.
Then there was burning out our eyes and brains with cathode ray-emitting computer monitors. Enter flatscreen LEDs or plasmas. Save our eyes, and save the planet using less energy too.
Well now, scientists have come up with another hazard of the workplace and it may not have a technological solution. Because the hazard is a fundamental act.
Sitting itself.
That’s right, sitting can be bad for your health. In a study conducted in Louisiana over 14 years and with factors like smoking and body mass index adjusted out, it was found that women who sit for more than 6 hours a day are 37% more likely to die than those who sit for 3 hours or less.
The good news for men, their increased mortality was only 17%. Apparently, the Y chromosome carries a genetic Barcolounger adaptation.
Researchers suspect inactivity while sitting triggers triglyceride and cholesterol formation, which can lead to heart disease. They recommend a fairly radical solution.
Get up and walk.
I don’t know. I’m thinking maybe they should see if there’s a technological solution. They don’t seem too sure about the cholesterol build-up thing. It could be the strenuous act of sitting up that triggers destructive stress hormones. Maybe new ergonomic chairs might help. Ones that fully recline...
A little laying down on the job might be just the ticket.
America, ya gotta love it.