Editor's Note: Julie Silver, MD, contributes to the LIVESTRONG.COM blog through her new column, "Have You Heard?"
I’ve been invited to contribute regularly to this blog. In discussions about what the focus of my blog installment should be, I shared that I often find myself saying to others, “Have you heard about the new study…” or “One of my colleagues just wrote a book about…”
I am on the faculty at Harvard Medical School, and my office is literally in the Harvard Medical School library (Countway). A few floors above me are my colleagues who publish the esteemed New England Journal of Medicine. Within the nooks between the racks are lots of students studying for exams--future doctors. It’s a really cool place to work and one in which I have access to a lot of amazing information that is “hot off the press.” So, whether it’s a new study or a new book or some other cutting-edge piece of health news, I want to share it with you.
Since there is so much health advice floating around, I am always delighted when there is something truly simple that people can do to improve their health. Here's a new tip from the guy who works two doors down from me, Pat Skerrett. Skerrett serves as the editor for the Harvard Heart Letter.
I recently noticed Pat standing at his desk a lot. Since I treat people with back pain and sometimes recommend standing desks when sitting is too painful, I figured that he was having problems with his back (which is true). But, there’s more to this story than back pain. Pat wrote about it in a blog for "Your Health at Work"--a column featured at the Harvard Business Review site.
In a nutshell here’s Pat’s advice: "Fire" your chair and "hire" a standing desk. At the very least, attempt to spend more of your day walking around the office and standing as opposed to sitting at your desk for the whole duration of the day.
Of course you know that most of us are too sedentary. The problem with not getting enough physical activity is no surprise to anyone. But, the solution to this typically involves setting aside time to become more physically active. Even a simple suggestion such as taking the stairs might negatively impact your daily efficiency (if you have to walk five flights of stairs, the elevator may just get you there faster).
What I really love about Pat’s advice is this:
1. It’s based on a new study that just came out which included more than 100,000 men and women. This study found that people who sat for more than six hours a day were more likely to have died (over a 14 year period) than those who sat for less than three hours a day. The authors of this study wrote, “The time spent sitting was independently associated with total mortality, regardless of physical activity level.” The researchers went on to say, “Public health messages should include both being physically active and reducing time spent sitting.”
2. It actually makes you MORE efficient at work, rather than taking time away from your daily tasks. Pat highlights key points that include potential brain health benefits--increased alertness and productivity.
Can one simple thing change your life? Stand up and see…
Julie Silver, MD is an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. She is the author of many award-winning books including "What Helped Get Me Through: Cancer Survivors Share Wisdom and Hope." To see more about her work, visit her website or check out her work as an AOL Health Expert.
Member Comments