Myths and truths about the negative effects of crossing legs

For years we’ve heard that the right way to sit a lady is to do it cross-legged. However, they are also the hundreds of mythsthat have emerged in recent years about the negative effects this practice has on our health.

Since at present, both women and men have acquired this habit, when sitting, whether on the bus, the lawn, the office or the house,we have decided to present this article where four of the most common myths about the effects of crossing the legs.  Here are some myths and truths about crossing your legs:

Causes numbness or paralysis

According to an article published by the BBC in London the numbness or numbness that we may feel in our lower extremities after having them for some time crossed,is essentially due to the pressure on the peroneal nerve, which is located just behind the knee.

However, it’s only temporary, from which you’ll recover after a moment. In fact, according to the article published by this British medium you should spend hours and hours with your legs crossed to develop a pathology known as paralysis of the peroneal nerve, which would cause you the impossibility of moving the fingers of your foot, as well as the front of it.

So crossing your legs for a while and now and then it won’t leave you at all a permanent numbness in your limb.

Increases blood pressure

Likewise another of the great myths that haunt the practice of crossing the legs is that this habit can bring a considerable increase in blood pressure, putting your cardiovascular health at risk.

In this sense, through an article published on its internet portal, the BBC refers to a study conducted in Turkey by a clinic specializing in the study of Hypertension, in order to determine whether the practice of crossing the legs really had any impact on voltage measurement.

In this way, scientists proceeded to measure the tension of a group of people, first with their legs crossed and then without crossing.

Indeed, the blood pressure count was found to be higher when the individual had crosslegs, with the highest counts occurring withinthe population of patients who were already treated for high blood pressure. However, it was also found that only three minutes after having breached the legs the blood pressure levels were again at their proper level.

In this way scientists were able to establish, that despite popular belief, crossing the legs does not actually produce an increase in transcendent blood pressure over time, which can cause some permanent damage to your health. However, the BBC article continues, doctors warn people at higher risk of clots that as a precaution avoid spending prolonged times with their cross-legged.

Cause varicose veins

According to the scientific description, varicose veins occur when tiny blood vessels, tasked with making blood flow in the right direction,weaken, causing some of the blood to stop and stall, causing inflammation and even rupture of the vein.

However, doctors believe that varicose veins respond mostly to a genetic fact, rather than external factors, although it is advised not to wear high heels or very tight clothing for long days.

As regards this article, as stated by the BBC on its portal, doctors haven´t been able to establish a direct link between the habit of crossing the legs and the varicose veins, so this is also a popular belief that could not be verified for science.

Causes joint damage

It is also held that the habit of crossing the legs can bring some kind of involvement on the joints.

As reviewed by the BBC on its portal, a scientific study focused on analyzing precisely the negative or positive effect that the habit of crossing the legs usually brought to the body’s joints, determined that usually the one who crosses the legs for a while tends to throw your body or trunk forward, creating a bad posture when sitting.

However, if the same person was on the lookout for good posture during his stay cross-legged, this habit would have no other impact on the joints. Therefore, this is also another myth, since according to studies carried out crossing the legs does not cause damage to your joints.

So the next time you’re going to sit cross-legged, feel calm, because according to science this habit will not cause limb paralysis,increased blood pressure, varicose veins or permanent joint damage.

However, remember that a sedentary life, or not moving for many hours, is not at all healthy, so it is advisable to alternate the leg that you will keep crossed, and get up from time to time, so that the blood circulation is favoured.

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