Pharmacy Times offers relevant, clinical information for pharmacists that they can use in their daily practice. These include OTC and Rx product news, disease conditions, patient education guides, drug diversion and abuse, and more.
Issue link: http://pharmacytimes.epubxp.com/i/614520
more calories, 9 which can add up over the course of a day. The caloric outflow of nonexercise activity thermogenesis throughout a day can lead to a higher calorie expenditure than 30 to 60 min- utes of moderate to vigorous exercise. 10 Therefore, changes need to be made to decrease daily sitting times. This respon- sibility falls on individuals and the envi- ronments in which they spend their time. Research suggests that, regardless of total sitting time, regular interruptions from sitting may help reduce the risk of developing heart disease and diabetes. 11 Although no set limit of sedentary time has been established, the general consen- sus is that everyone should get up and move around for 1 to 3 minutes every 30 minutes. Whereas some situations, such as driv- ing, cannot be modified to include stand- ing or moving around, most situations can be modified. At home, stand up while folding laundry or clean while watching television. Limit time sitting with a computer. Play video games that require standing. Read while walk- ing on a treadmill. At work, instead of sending an e-mail, leave your seat to communicate with a coworker. Request a sit-stand desk to allow standing while working. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Take a walk at lunchtime. Have walk- ing meetings instead of sit- ting in a conference room. Pace while on the phone. Set an alarm as a reminder to stand, stretch, and walk. Other suggestions include shopping at a mall instead of online, parking farther away from buildings to increase walking, walking into restaurants and phar- macies instead of using drive-throughs, and taking up active hob- bies such as gardening or volunteering to walk dogs at an animal shelter. End Note Fortunately, a revolution against sitting is already under way. Many studies have quantified the health risks of sitting too much. The evidence of the cardiovas- cular risks is clear, although the health risks of different sedentary activities may vary. Driving requires more muscle movement than sitting at a computer, which requires more muscle movement than watching television. 12 Companies around the world are recognizing the health risks of too much sitting and are providing employees with standing desks and making other changes that promote stand- ing and stepping. Perhaps schools will start to provide standing desks, stretching times, and time for walking throughout the day to help children stay healthy and learn healthy habits. Health care providers, corporations, teachers, and individuals need to take a stand for health, literally! n For references, go to Pharmacy Times.com/publications/issue. MORE @ PHARMACY TIMES.COM Health care providers should counsel patients to limit seden- tary time, particularly sitting.