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A sedentary lifestyle can be as harmful as smoking

A sedentary lifestyle can be as harmful to the body as smoking, while physical exercise extends life and tends to increase immunity.

A sedentary lifestyle has long worried doctors and scientists. With the onset of the pandemic, the issue became more prominent. In a scenario where people spend most of their time at home and without the possibility of going to a gym or gym, many people end up simply moving from the chair (in front of the computer) to the sofa or bed.

Effects of a sedentary lifestyle

According to research from Harvard University, a person who remains inactive for long periods can be at risk of developing cardiovascular disease, stroke and other serious and chronic diseases, such as some cancers and type 2 diabetes. The university emphasizes that a lack of physical exercise is Also a risk factor for diseases that, in general, represent an exacerbation of mortality, as they are comparable to the effects of smoking tobacco cigarettes.

The effects of a sedentary lifestyle are similar to those of cigarettes

Another institution, the esteemed Cleveland Clinic, concluded in a 2018 study in the US that the effects of a sedentary lifestyle on life expectancy can be more harmful than those of cigarettes themselves. The work, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), took into account mortality data from a sample of 122,007 patients who underwent physical exams between 1991 and 2014. The conclusion was that patients who could not continue to run. The treadmill, or another type of exercise test, also had a worse prognosis than patients with diabetes, hypertension, or smokers—in terms of mortality.

Most Brazilians do not exercise regularly

A survey conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2018 showed that the Brazilian population, despite their messes and their extension to beauty centers and gyms, do less physical exercise than experts consider healthy.

The data survey took into account information collected over 15 years and concluded that half of people in adulthood do not engage in physical activities satisfactorily to promote health and increase immunity. Among women, the percentage exceeds 53% of the unemployed, while the percentage of inactivity among men is slightly lower and remains at 40.4%.

The importance of exercise to boost immunity

Physical exercise is necessary to improve the quality of life and increase immunity. Through physical activities, it is possible to reduce the risk of serious diseases and ensure better physical and mental health. According to research published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, fighting sedentary lifestyles can help people live longer and better. The study found the possibility of having up to 5 years in life expectancy. In addition to boosting immunity, exercise fights excess weight and thus obesity-related diseases.