Avoid being sedentary to prevent clots and Deep Vein Thrombosis

Sedentary routine of young officegoers may be doubling their risk of suffering from a dangerous blood clot, according to a new survey.

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT), linked to cramped long-haul flights, can affect anyone who sits for prolonged periods without getting up to move around. DVT is a blood clot that forms in a deep vein, most commonly in your leg or pelvis.

It may cause no symptoms at all or cause swelling, redness and pain. If a clot becomes dislodged and passes through the blood vessels, it can reach the lungs. Symptoms include coughing, chest pain and breathlessness and can be fatal.

A survey of 1,000 people under 30 years found that young officegoers sat still for an average of three hours and three quarters, and ate lunch at their desk instead of taking the opportunity to move around, which would reduce their risk of a clot, the Telegraph reports.

For every hour spent sitting, the risk of a blood clot increases by 10 percent and there are around 60,000 potentially fatal blood clots recorded in Britain each year, according to research the survey conducted by lifeblood, a British charity.

Richard Beasley, director of the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand, said: "People know that a sedentary lifestyle increases the risk of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease in later life."

"However, very few are aware of the fact that prolonged immobility in the workplace also poses an immediate threat, more than doubling the risk of developing a potentially fatal blood clot. It is vital that this potential risk is recognised in both the office and at home," he added.

Beverley Hunt, medical director of the thrombosis charity Lifeblood, said: "Our research has uncovered a ticking time-bomb with some nine million office workers and countless young gamers putting themselves at risk of a potentially fatal blood clot. The human body is designed for the 'caveman' lifestyle; active, agile and constantly mobile. Instead, we have become increasingly sedentary."