Sedentary lifestyle among office workers and coronary heart disease risk factors due to the COVID-19 quarantine

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the entire world. It is difficult to follow protocols and regulations set forth by governments, designed by the World Health Organization. The most common protocol set forth by governments is quarantining at home. Many occupations must stay home to comply with this protocol. Among these occupations, office workers are the most common group to comply and work from home. This has led to a lack of daily movement and increased sedentary lifestyle, which has made employees prone to developing coronary heart disease (CHD). Additionally, obesity is a known risk factor for this group. This commentary presents feasible protocols aimed at helping home-based office workers stay healthy and decrease the risk of developing CHD.

1 Introduction

A sedentary life style among office workers has increased from 26 to 38 h per week between 1965 and 2009 in the USA expressing alarming prospects for 2030 [1]. Many studies have shown a correlation between sedentary behavior and increased risks for cardiovascular disorders, type II diabetes, obesity, cancer (colon and breast), high blood pressure, musculoskeletal complaints and psychological disorders (depression and anxiety) [2, 3]. Sedentary behavior both during work and leisure time is estimated to be responsible for about one-third of annual deaths due to coronary heart disease (CHD) in the USA (each year 1.9 million people die a premature death because of a sedentary lifestyle –based on WHO statistics). There is no standard definition of sedentary lifestyle and sedentary behavior, however, sedentary behavior refers to any waking activity characterized by a low energy expenditure while sitting or reclining. What is even worse is that people with CHD, for whom a sedentary lifestyle may have been a contributing factor to their disease, receive medical advice based on academic recommendations that often discourages them to perform physical activity out of fear that it may exacerbate their heart condition [4].

The current COVID-19 pandemic is especially concerning for office workers that must stay at home. They more easily engage in a sedentary lifestyle be-cause their lives are devoid of the most basic activities of daily living including dressing in professional attire and transporting themselves to work [5]. Studies show that as a person’s life becomes more seden-tary, their social, cognitive, and physical health will deteriorate and they will be at an increased risk of comorbidities like CHD [6, 7]. These problems are dramatic and are seen among office workers that telework during the COVID-19 quarantine. To ameliorate the aforementioned problem and consequence, we recommend several protocols [8].

2 Physical protocols: 150–300 min per week aerobic exercise and two times per week strength exercise

Aerobic exercise: march in place, climbing up and down steps, dance, online aerobic exercise

Strength exercise: squat to chair, pushups on the wall or the floor, isometric exercise with body weight, online exercise.

Physical activity: break up sitting, walk while sp-eaking on the phone (especially for work), stand while eating, cook food, wash and dry dishes, play video interactive movement games found on many electronic home gaming consoles, neck side stretch [9].

Benefit: physical activity has a significant positive influence on comorbidities like CHD, by strengthening the heart and bones, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, decrease pain symptoms, weight loss, and improve feeling of wellness [10].

3 Mental protocols

Cognitive stimulation (using apps or stimulating mental exercises, especially for people with previous cognitive impairment, e.g. sudoku): meditation, reading, writing, listening to calm music, drawing [11].

Benefit: Mental exercise helped patients with symptoms of CHD develop a deeper cognitive aware-ness to identify negative stress-related thought patterns and instead, redirect their attention to the positivity of the present moment [12].

4 Social protocols

To prevent social isolation: stay connected with relatives and friends using technology, maintain you spiritual and religious practice, watch positive videos and movies.

Benefit: Social activity has been tied to biological mechanisms including the effects of psychologic stimuli on the autonomic nervous system that can decrease stress and depression [13].

5 Conclusion

COVID-19 quarantined office workers must be aware that their lack of typical daily activity can cause significant physical health deterioration. The simple protocols that we recommend in this work can easily and enjoyably be integrated into a person’s life and improve physical health while alleviating consequences typically seen in a sedentary lifestyle.

Conflict of interest

The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.