Kootenai | Kootenai Health | Issue 4, 2017

SITTING IS THE NEWSMOKING Everyone knows how important regular exercise is for good health, but what most people don’t know is how much sitting for extended periods negatively impacts their overall well-being. As it turns out, it can be easy to help fight daytime fatigue and minimize the effects of sitting. “Sitting for hours on end is bad for your health—for your body and mind,” Chad Hagen, M.D., Kootenai Clinic Sleep Medicine, said. “We’re not made to be sedentary. I urge all my patients and staff members to incorporate small bursts of activity throughout the day. It increases alertness and energy levels. The ef- fects are similar to that of caffeine, but healthier.” Dr. Hagen referenced an Aus- tralian study from 2012, led by the University of Sydney, which studied Incorporate more movement to beat the afternoon lull and improve your health By Andrea Nagel 16