Life
Thinking about good posture might conjure up memories of strict teachers who scolded you to sit up straight. After all, it's basically second nature to melt into your chair whenever you're sitting for any length of time. That upright posture business requires consistent awareness of your body, and who has time for that? That being said the bad things that happen to your body when you slump in your chair for more than 30 minutes are somewhat alarming and will have you reconsider your positions.
Basically, everything from your circulation to your digestive health can be affected by slumping for too long. Allowing your body to crunch forward for long periods of time can also harm your spine, lungs, and even your jaw. The bodily aches and pains you take for granted may well be due to slouching.
That said, if you're anything like me, it's almost impossible to sit properly for any length of time. I always wind up hunching over my keyboard like some sort of lazy praying mantis. The fight to sit upright is real. Of course, there are tons of easy ways to have better posture throughout the day, so these habits don't have to last forever. And after you learn more about the many ways slumping can harm your body, sitting pretty will start to seem even more appealing.
1Your Breathing Becomes Shallow
When you take a deep breath, it's normal to square your shoulders and stand tall. After all, it's difficult to breath deeply when you're slumped over. Which is why, as noted in Prevention, a slouched posture can make you breathe in a shallow manner.
2You Become Very Tired
This makes complete sense. When your spine is not in alignment, the rest of your muscles have to compensate to help you stay upright, as noted by the National Health Service. This can lead to feelings of increased fatigue.
3Your Circulation Decreases
Keeping your blood flowing freely is a crucial component of health. As noted by Greatist, slumping can cause poor circulation, which in turn can also make you feel more fatigued. Apparently, most everything about poor posture can make you feel tired.
4You Suffer Stomach Troubles
Posture may even affect your digestive health. As noted in Prevention, sitting in a slouched position can make your intestines fold up, potentially leading to problems with constipation. Maintaining better posture just might help your stomach out, too.
5You Damage Your Heart & Lungs
Unfortunately, some of the effects of sitting can result in pretty serious concerns. According to Fitness, poor posture can affect your rib cage, which in turn may damage your heart and lungs. Who knew sitting upright could be so important to your overall health?
6You Deal With Jaw Pain
Slumping may even cause some dental problems. As noted by Dynamic Dental, slouching while sitting can misalign your spine, which can ultimately lead to jaw pain. Even your dentist wants you to sit up straight.
7You Experieince Shoulder Pain
This is a fairly intuitive issue. Letting your spine sit out of alignment can lead to issues with shoulder pain, as explained by The Waldegrave Clinic. It can put too much strain on your muscles.
8You Have Headaches
Your constant headaches may have an unexpected source. According to the National Health Service, poor posture can cause throbbing headaches. Maybe sitting up straight can help your head feel better, too.
9You Being To Feel Back Pain
This is probably the most expected effect of all. Spine Health noted that back pain is often the result of poor posture, especially if it gets worse at particular times of the day. As further explained by the site, your muscles, joints, and discs can all be adversely affected by slumping.
10You Develop A Hunchback
Over time, slumping can lead to a hunchback, which is more formally known as postural kyphosis, according to Hunchback.org. A noticeably curved spine can be the ultimate result.
11You Increase Your Risk Of Injury
If you're an athlete, this may be especially important to know. According to Peak Performance, anecdotal evidence suggests poor posture can lead to a greater chance of injury. At the very least, the pain often associated with slumped posture can hinder your performance.
