The All-Connectedness

We have demonstrated how sitting for an extended period of time can impact our ability to stay engaged in activities imposing high energy demands on the brain. That is just one of the puzzle pieces that comprise the big picture.

We can take our example even further, expanding on the idea that there is no sharp-line separation of internal processes in our bodies and that everything is interconnected.

All these processes depend on consistent, reliable blood flow. As we mentioned, however, the heart is not designed to accommodate the return of the blood back up the veins by itself. It uses the pumping effect of the muscles and the venous valves to get the blood flowing back from the extremities. But when we sit, without the muscle pump effect, blood creates excessive pressure on the venous valves. With time, the excessive pressure of this pooling blood can damage the valves, begin accumulating in bulging veins, and obstruct circulation. And, if your blood is in your legs, guess where it is not? 

It is not where it needs to be for the absorption of nutrients and oxygen, and it is not delivering these nutrients to the parts of the body that need them. As a result, we may be lacking energy and the essential materials for cell production and repair, not because we don’t eat well, but because they are not being delivered to the proper final destination.

By means of hormones, our brains transmit messages to trigger various actions within the body. With decreased or slowed blood circulation, there may be a delayed influx of hormones in the bloodstream, which can create chaos in a system that is heavily reliant on timely communication for many important processes. One of which, for example, is the distribution of insulin, which facilitates the uptake of glucose from the bloodstream by muscle cells.

Impaired blood circulation will also slow down waste elimination. The delivery of white cells that help us fight infection may also be affected by disturbed blood supply. In addition, since the endocrine system doesn’t have a heart of its own to move the liquid, the lymphatic circulation also depends on the pump action of joints and muscles. 

As you see, many essential functions of our bodies are clearly affected by sitting – directly or indirectly. And, although our discussion has emphasized the role of the cardiovascular system as a mediator of many internal processes, we must keep in mind that any other process can affect the intricate internal balance. Therefore, it is useful not to compartmentalize, instead treating everything as a single, interconnected system. Think of your body as a mechanical clock. All parts must be synchronized and working together for the clock to function. You can’t remove one cogwheel without affecting the work of the other components.

That is why we require a holistic approach with, as mentioned, consideration of the big picture. This will keep the system in balance, functioning optimally.