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Sedentary work in the office leads to the development of thrombosis of the legs
Last reviewed: 16.10.2021
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Sedentary work in the office can significantly increase the risk of developing deep vein thrombosis - described in a recent study of scientists from New Zealand. The development of blood clots in the legs and pelvis area occurs if a person leads a sedentary lifestyle, and sits in one place for a long time without getting up to get a little warm.
Deep vein thrombosis can be asymptomatic, but in some cases it manifests itself in the form of edema, redness and pain in the area of the clogged blood vessel.
Significantly larger problems arise when the thrombus is displaced. In this case, he is able to reach the lungs, which can lead to severe pain in the chest, coughing and shortness of breath. Recent statistical studies have shown that usually office workers sit in the workplace for a maximum of about 3 hours and 45 minutes in a row during the entire working day before they get up for some reason or another. For many people, this figure is significantly larger because of the habit of snacking at the workplace, instead of getting into the lunch break to get up and walk at least to a cafe in the next room.
Every hour of sitting increases the chance of forming blood clots by 10%, so that now in the territory of England alone there are about 60 thousand lethal cases of deep vein thrombosis, fixed each year. Approximately in the same risk group are people who work at home. In order to reduce the risk of blood vessel thrombosis it is necessary to get up from the workplace in order to walk a little at least once every 30 minutes, plus to conduct a relatively active lunch break, and periodically knead the legs during the working day - doctors recommend.
"Many people understand that the seated lifestyle significantly increases the risk of the formation of diseases of the cardiovascular system and diabetes. However, not everyone is aware that sitting in one place and in the absence of any physical activity increases the risk of blood clots more than 2 times, which is more likely to become fatal. Office workers should be aware of such serious risks to their health, "notes the doctor Beverley Hunt, head of the England Thrombosis Research Center.
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