How Can Leading a Sedentary Life Decrease Life Expectancy?
Leading a sedentary lifestyle is becoming a significant public health issue. Sedentary behaviour appears to be increasing in many nations, despite being linked to a range of chronic health conditions. According to the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, adults should be getting at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity each week. Research however suggests that only 21 per cent of people achieve this.
Physical inactivity or sitting for long periods of time has been associated with health risk factors such as cardiovascular disease, obesity (body mass index (BMI) > 40 ) type 2 diabetes, anxiety and depression, some forms of cancer and early death.
Chronic diseases and health conditions caused by these risk factors are now the leading causes of death in almost every part of the world.
The NHS states that prolonged sitting is thought to slow your metabolism, which affects the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar, blood pressure and break down fat. This in turn can lead to a decreased life expectancy.
How often should we get up from our desks?
Most people with sedentary behaviour or desk-based jobs with excessive sitting spend around 7-8 hours (or more) sitting, which isn’t good for their health. It is important to have regular breaks to stretch out your body, fingers and hands (if using a keyboard frequently) and to give your eyes a rest from the glare of a computer screen. 1-2 minute stand-up breaks from sitting each hour is enough to lower risk factors, such as cancer.
What little movements can we incorporate into everyday life to improve our health?
If you have a sedentary lifestyle or a desk-bound job, then make sure you take regular breaks. It is important to try and get 10,000 steps in a day and, even better try and do some regular exercise before or after work to help release endorphins, which in turn increase your energy. You may not feel like doing physical activity, but even a 15-minute brisk walk can boost your energy levels and give you that pick-up you so need. Yoga, spinning, a run, or a HIIT class will all get your heart rate up and your blood flowing and boost your mood and your energy levels, even if it is for just a short period.
Not only do you have to be active during the day, but the amount of time spent exercising should also be a period of constant exercise. Just 30 minutes of exercise a day, even small movements can have huge health benefits and help to offset problems like osteoporosis, retain your muscle mass, avoid back pain and lower your risk of heart problems.
Researchers have recently found that a lack of physical activity for a longer period of time can increase your risk of developing chronic health issues that can lead to mortality. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), everyone should indulge in a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of higher physical activity levels each week.
Subtle movement breaks up prolonged sitting and has been shown to promote higher HDL (“good cholesterol“) and lowers the prevalence of LDL (“bad cholesterol”) which in turn can improve your blood pressure and lower your risk of heart attack.
Automation has made more time available for leisure pursuits. Unfortunately, most of the newfound leisure time is used for sedentary pursuits, whereas the human body is designed for strenuous physical activity.
What happens to our body when we overeat?
Overeating usually leads to weight gain, which in turn can put such an intolerable strain on the body, including the heart and internal organs. This can lead to health issues like heart disease, strokes, diabetes and cancer.
How is social isolation dangerous for our health?
Humans are wired to interact with other humans. If we’re not talking to others or getting regular physical activity then both our physical and mental health can be dramatically affected. This has never been more evident than the recent Covid pandemic. The impact of lockdowns on the mental health of individuals has been devastating for some (especially loneliness in older people), and even those more resilient would admit that it has been a difficult time.
Social isolation can also increase the chances of serious health problems such as cardiovascular disease, a higher risk of heart attack, heart disease, stroke and Alzheimer’s disease/dementia.
Sources
Loneliness in older people – NHS
Medical Disclaimer
NowPatient has taken all reasonable steps to ensure that all material is factually accurate, complete, and current. However, the knowledge and experience of a qualified healthcare professional should always be sought after instead of using the information on this page. Before taking any drug, you should always speak to your doctor or another qualified healthcare provider.
The information provided here about medications is subject to change and is not meant to include all uses, precautions, warnings, directions, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or negative effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a particular medication does not imply that the medication or medication combination is appropriate for all patients or for all possible purposes.
Related Articles
Can I Trust NowPatient
Our product and services are certified to international healthcare, medical device and data security standards
Medicines Experts
Meet our medical team
We are a broad skilled and passionate group of clinicians with experience of operating in health systems in the United Kingdom & United States. Providing excellent care and advice is at the heart of everything we do. You can read more about our medical team by visiting the medical team page or learn more about how we curate content by visiting our editorial process
WHY WE BUILT NOWPATIENT
We are committed to helping everyone, everywhere live healthier lives
The NowPatient virtual care platform provides you with access to trusted health information, affordable treatments, management of chronic health conditions and continuous monitoring for health risks. NowPatient can be accessed by downloading the App or using your web browser.
Download our app today
Your Questions Answered
For your peace of mind, we can answer your questions quickly
What does NowPatient do?
NowPatient is a digital health-technology platform functioning as both an online pharmacy and telehealth service. Packaged as a Class I software medical device, it’s accessible via web browser or mobile app (iOS and Android), and offers users worldwide on-demand access to virtual consultations, prescription services, and AI-powered health tools.
Ownership
The service is owned and operated by Infohealth Ltd, a licensed online pharmacy registered in England and Wales (company no. 04004930) with its registered office at Lynwood House, 373–375 Station Road, Harrow, England, HA1 2AW. Infohealth Ltd holds the necessary MHRA approvals for its pharmacy and telehealth offerings.
What It Does
- NHS Online Pharmacy: Order NHS-approved prescriptions (UK)
- Drug Savings: Access major US drug-savings programs (coupons, savings cards, manufacturer assistance, Canadian drug savings).
- Virtual Consultations: Get treated for a wide range of medical conditions by expert clinicians using a secure telehealth link.
- Medication Management: Set up refill & dose reminders, view private treatment plans, and track chronic conditions like diabetes or hypertension.
- Health-Monitoring Tools: Use AI-driven assessments for genetic risk tests, home test kits and blood-pressure monitoring.
- Wellness Insights: Access real-time pollen counts, air-quality data, BMI and type 2 diabetes risk scores, plus comprehensive health-condition information.
Get started today and benefit from Medication Reminders, Get Treated Privately, NHS Online Pharmacy, GP Appointment Booking, Rx Savings Card, Drug Coupons, US Drug Savings Programs, Health Conditions Information, Genetic Testing, Home Test Kits, BMI Risks, Type 2 Diabetes Risks, Pollen Meter, Air Quality Monitor, and lots more!
Our service is operated by experienced medical professionals in the United States and the United Kingdom.
You can view the online services we provide by clicking the link below:
Where is NowPatient located?
NowPatient has offices in the United Kingdom and United States.
In the UK, we are located at:
NowPatient
28 Chipstead Valley Road
Coulsdon
Surrey
CR52RA
In the US, we are located at:
NowPatient
8911 North Capital of Texas Highway
Suite 4200 #1263
78759
Austin, TX
How can I contact NowPatient?
To contact NowPatient, please use the contact form available on the Contact Us page.
Alternatively, if you need to speak to us, you can reach us on the following numbers:
UK telephone number – 020 388 51 500
US telephone number – 1-866-967-1977
Who owns NowPatient?
NowPatient is owned and operated by Infohealth Ltd, a licensed online pharmacy with services spanning the UK, US and Rest of the World. Infohealth Ltd is registered in England and Wales under company number 04004930 and our registered office is at Lynwood House, 373 – 375 Station Road, Harrow, England, HA1 2AW.
Our website is www.nowpatient.com. Our App is called “NowPatient” and can be downloaded from the App Store (for Apple devices) or Google Play (for Android devices).
Can you tell me more about your NHS online pharmacy?
NowPatient’s Pharmaceutical services in the UK are provided by Infohealth Limited trading as ‘Infohealth Pharmacy’.
Our dispensing pharmacy is regulated and authorized for internet sales by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), registration number 1036487. You can view our license credentials on the General Pharmaceutical Council website. Our superintendent pharmacist who is responsible for the safe and effective oversight of medicines supplies is Mr Amish Patel (Registration Number 2042705).
Medicines are not ordinary items of commerce. All medicines or healthcare product sales are made under the supervision of a registered pharmacist who is licensed by the GPhC. At all times, we endeavour to provide a professional and transparent service whose primary goal is to ensure that the best interests of the patient are served.
How do I make a complaint?
From time to time, we accept that our service levels may not be up to your expectations. NowPatient welcomes concerns, compliments and complaints as valuable feedback that will help us learn from your experiences and make improvements. Feedback can be provided via our clear and transparent Complaints Procedures.
Can you tell me more about NowPatient’s prescribing services for treatments offered?
Our prescribing services are regulated by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). We provide the following regulated activity:
• treatment of disease, disorder, or injury
• transport services, triage, and medical advice are provided remotely
• caring for adults over 65 years old
• caring for adults under 65 years old
NowPatient prescribing services are run by Infohealth Limited. The Clinical Safety Officer and nominated individual is Mr Navin Khosla.
Can you tell me more about NowPatient’s US services?
Our head of US services is Dr. Jamie Winn.
You can lower the cost of your prescription medications using our various savings programs which include drug coupons, savings card and manufacturer-sponsored patient assistance programs.
We do not provide any prescribing services or dispensing services in the United States.
Is NowPatient legit and can I trust information from NowPatient?
Yes. NowPatient provides trustworthy and accessible clinical, health education and prescription services. We are also trusted by the NHS to deliver clinical and NHS repeat prescription dispensing across the whole of England. In the United States, we work with over 65,000 pharmacies to deliver considerable costs savings for our users.
NowPatient is operated by experienced licensed medical professionals in the United Kingdom and United States. Our Medical Team can be found here.
Our service is trusted by thousands of patients worldwide. You can read their reviews on our Trustpilot:
What are NowPatient’s opening hours?
Our office hours are:
UK – Monday-Friday 9am-6pm GMT
US – Monday-Friday 8am-5pm EST
Please note that we are closed at weekends.
In the event of a medical life-threatening emergency please call:
UK – 999
US – 911
In the event of a medical emergency which is not life-threatening please call:
UK – 111