Sitting cross-legged can cause a temporary spike in blood pressure.
Research has found that people who have the habit of sitting cross-legged have to go through many minor and major problems.
Be it at home or the office, people sit with great pleasure by placing one leg on the other to sit comfortably. But do you know how harmful it can be for you if you sit like this for a long time? When you sit with one leg crossed over the other, it can increase the problem of bone alignment in the pelvic area and also affect blood circulation. This can cause pain in the lower back and also lead to a misalignment of your spine over time.
Research has found that people who have the habit of sitting cross-legged have to go through many minor and major problems. Let us take a look at how cross-leg posture affects your health.
Problems during pregnancy:
According to Healthline, if women sit in a cross-legged posture during pregnancy, it can cause many problems. In fact, at this time, women’s bodies undergo rapid changes. In such situations, problems like muscle cramps, back pain etc. are quite common.
If a pregnant woman sits cross-legged, it can harm the mother as well as the child. Not only this but problems like leg cramps and joint pain can also occur.
According to a report published in the Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health, about 26 per cent of pregnant women have restless leg syndrome (RLS).
The problem of high blood pressure:
You must have noticed that when BP is checked, it is advised to keep both feet on the ground. Actually, for better blood flow, it is beneficial to keep both feet equally on the ground. Research has found that sitting cross-legged can cause a temporary spike in blood pressure. Especially if your knees and feet are placed on each other.
A study published in the Journal of Clinical Nursing found that crossed legs at the knee level significantly raised blood pressure. Participants’ blood pressure increased slightly more when they crossed their legs by placing their ankles on their knees, according to another study published in the Journal of Hypertension.
If you already have high blood pressure, try to avoid crossing your legs for extended periods.
The problem of Varicose Veins:
When the blood does not reach the heart easily while passing through the blood veins or there is a problem with blood flow despite having a pump, then blood starts back flowing in the veins, and the problem of varicose veins starts. In this, purple veins start appearing on many parts of the body, which are blood clots. Sitting with crossed legs can also cause the problem of varicose veins.