Warning over common sitting position that can lead to headaches, anxiety and insomnia

From msn.com/en-gb

If you work at a desk, you'll know that a lot of your day is spent sitting down. But the wrong posture can lead to some pretty unpleasant health consequences over time.

Health experts have warned that daily bad posture can lead to a range of negative effects on our mind and body, including headaches, insomnia, and even anxiety and depression.

And there's one very common sitting position that people are being urged to avoid if they want to improve their overall health.

Dr Deborah Lee from Dr Fox Online Pharmacy issued a warning to anyone who works at a desk, highlighting that sitting with a lowered neck can wreak havoc on your posture.

This was echoed by Dr. Stefan Mindea, MD who explained that this can cause strain on the spine. He said: "When the head is tilted forward—commonly known as "tech neck"—the effective weight of the head increases exponentially due to the angle.

"For example, at a 30° forward tilt, the head's weight feels like 40 pounds to the neck. This unnatural strain leads to muscle fatigue, headaches, and chronic neck pain."

Poor posture can trigger a number of different side effects over time, according to Deborah. One of these is 'severe and throbbing' headaches, due to prolonged tension in the head, neck and spine.

This tension or inability to relax can also lead to insomnia, since the neck and back pain that's often experienced can make it very difficult to switch off at night.

Anxiety and depression can be another side effect, with studies showing that slumping in a chair can make negative thoughts appear easier, bringing on feelings of anxiety and putting a dampener on your mood.

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What is the best sitting position?

To make sure you're sitting correctly, warding off these unpleasant symptoms, Dr Deborah recommends the 'S' position, which ensures your muscles in your spine aren't being pulled by gravity.

Here's a step-by-step guide on how to achieve this.

• Sit facing forward with your feet flat on the floor. This may mean altering the height of your chair as you should not sit with your feet dangling or your knees bunched up

• Your knees should be at the same height as your hips

• Your ankles should be slightly in front of your knees

• Keep your back in contact with the back of the chair, using a cushion if needed

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