India, Sept. 29 -- Prolonged sitting at a desk has been red-flagged time and again. The most obvious and common dangers include weight gain, posture issues, and even several lifestyle diseases, such as hypertension and type 2 diabetes. There's also a shocking side effect that will take away your breath (quite literally!)

Yes, Dr Rajkumar K, senior consultant- pulmonology at MGM Malar, Chennai, confirmed this with HT Lifestyle and revealed that sitting for long hours affects the efficiency of the lungs.

Dr Rajkumar explained that, like other organs, lungs also depend on movement to function optimally. What happens is when you sit for a long time, the posture slouches, and as the pulmonologist noted that it prevents he breathing muscles, ...