Sitting and working for many hours has become a common habit in modern life. However, sitting still for more than four hours without exercise can increase the risk of blood clots forming in the veins, a serious complication that is often underestimated.
According to Dr. Vinay Nyapathi, an imaging specialist at Apollo Spectra (Bangalore, India), when sitting for a long time, the muscles in the calves lose activity, causing blood flow back to the heart to slow down. Blood may stagnate in deep veins in the legs, thereby increasing the risk of blood clots.
This condition is called deep venous thrombosis (DVT), which usually occurs in the lower extremities. More dangerously, if a part of the blood clot separates and moves along the bloodstream to the lungs, it can cause pulmonary embolism (PE). When DVT and PE occur simultaneously, this condition is called venous thrombosis (VTE), a medical emergency that can be life-threatening if not treated promptly.
The risk increases significantly when a person sits motionless for four hours or more. This is common in office workers, people working in front of computers, long-distance drivers or passengers on flights lasting more than six to eight hours. The cramped space, lack of exercise, dehydration and low-pressure environment on airplanes make the risk even higher.
However, not everyone has the same risk level. People over 60 years old, overweight, pregnant women, smokers, people using birth control pills, people with diabetes, high blood pressure, high blood fat or cancer are at higher risk. People who have just undergone surgery, trauma or have a family history of blood clotting disorders also need to be especially careful.
Signs of DVT include swelling on one leg, pain or tightness in the calves, warmer and redder skin than normal. Meanwhile, pulmonary embolism can cause sudden shortness of breath, chest pain when inhaling deeply, rapid heartbeat, dizziness or even coughing up blood. When these symptoms appear, patients need to see a doctor immediately.
Diagnosis is usually based on leg vascular ultrasound to detect DVT, or lung CT scan when suspected of PE. Currently, many cases can be treated with oral anticoagulants without long hospital stays as before.
According to experts, prevention is still the most important measure. Stand up and walk or stretch your legs for a few minutes after every two to three hours of sitting continuously. Drinking enough water, limiting alcohol, avoiding sitting cross-legged for too long and considering wearing pressure socks when traveling long distances can help maintain better blood circulation.
Dr. Vinay Nyapathi said that correctly recognizing the risks and changing small daily habits can significantly reduce the possibility of forming dangerous blood clots.
