Senior Safety: Sitting Too Long Can be Hazardous to Your Health

As a family, we had the great fortune of growing up having a summer home in upstate New York.  Since my folks moved to south Florida, a dozen years to be exact, they left for the summer in mid to late June.  The routine was always the same.  They drove to Orlando, got on the auto train and got off in Washington D.C. They drove from Washington D.C. to Rock Hill, New York and their summer begins!  This summer was different.  My parents sold their home during the winter months and decided they would travel which meant a good deal of driving.  My Dad has not been well and he could not share the driving.  This clearly meant that all the driving fell on my Mom.  We all discussed it and she felt it would be okay; she would manage it. To ensure their personal safety, my folks know that they need to stop along the way, take water breaks, walk around, stretch their legs, eat healthy meals and end the day before they are too tired.  

They were having a wonderful adventure for sure.  Only this adventure included two thousand two hundred miles that my Mom actually drove herself.  While they were away my Mom mentioned that her legs were bothering her and by the time they came home her legs were quite swollen.  In fact, her left calf had a considerable bulge and was sensitive to the touch.  She didn’t need to use her medical alert system, but she immediately visited with her primary care physician who advised her it appears she may have what is known as ‘Lymphedema.’  He referred her directly to a licensed Lymphedema Therapist just in time.  It was caught in the early stages and with therapy and self-care she will have a complete recovery.  

So what is lymphedema?  Simply, it is a collection of fluid that causes swelling, known as edema, in the arms and legs. There are different causes of lymphedema. Normally, lymph nodes filter fluid as it flows through them, trapping bacteria, viruses, and other foreign substances, which are then destroyed by special white blood cells called lymphocytes. Without normal lymph drainage, fluid can build up in the affected arm or leg, and lymphedema can develop. Symptomatically, it can include feeling as though your clothes, wristwatches, rings or bracelets are too tight; your arms or legs may feel full; and less flexibility in your wrists, hands, and ankles.  

For my Mom, sitting too long proved very harmful. More and more scientists warn that sitting for prolonged periods – more than four hours at a time-even if you also exercise regularly - could be bad for your health. It does not matter where the sitting occurs - at the office, at school or in the car, just the overall number of hours it occurs.

The treatment for lymphedema depends on its cause and includes wearing compression garments such as stockings or sleeves, proper diet and skin care, and fluid drainage. It is recommended that elevating an arm or leg that has swelling can help ease the drainage of lymph fluid from the affected limb.  Rest a swollen arm or leg on a comfortable surface, above the level of your heart as much as possible. Do not put pressure on your armpit or groin area. Do not hold a limb up without support for very long. This can increase swelling. Gentle exercise can help reduce swelling. The use of muscles during exercise naturally helps lymph fluid to circulate, which can reduce swelling. But exercise also increases blood flow to the muscles being used, which can increase the amount of lymph fluid present. If you have swelling, it is important to properly bandage an affected limb before exercising. Ask your doctor how to use a bandage for this purpose and what exercises are appropriate for your condition.  Each case is different so you want to be certain to consult with your physician. Remember, it is best to be safe, not sorry. 

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