10 Causes of Pilonidal Cyst
Cause #3: Prolonged Sitting
Research has shown that sitting for prolonged periods can be associated with various health issues. Examples include obesity, high blood sugar, high blood pressure, excess body fat especially around the waist, abnormal cholesterol levels, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Studies have found that those sitting more than 8 hours a day without physical activity have the same risk of dying as those who are obese or smoking.
In the case of a pilonidal cyst, prolonged sitting has been thought to predispose individuals to this condition as sitting increases the pressure on the coccygeal region. This condition was once known as “Jeep seat” or “Jeep riders’ disease” as many individuals, especially soldiers in World War II who were hospitalized for it, rode in Jeeps for a prolonged duration, which led to the belief that the condition was caused by the pressure and irritation on the coccyx. It has been estimated that as many as 80,000 US soldiers were admitted and treated for this condition between the years 1941 to 1945.
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