Long Sitting Sessions Raise Blood Clot Risk
Vascular experts warn that prolonged, uninterrupted sitting during gaming and binge-watching can slow blood flow in the legs and raise clot risk.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Heart Disease
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Vascular experts warned at a conference in New Delhi on October 8 to 10 that prolonged, uninterrupted sitting can increase the risk of deep vein thrombosis, including among younger people. A 2024 meta-analysis of 31 studies linked the highest level of sedentary behaviour to a 24% higher risk of venous thromboembolism.
Why it matters
Many people spend four to six hours sitting continuously while gaming or watching television, leaving the calf muscles largely inactive. Experts say the risk is not automatic but may add to existing risk factors.
A 2024 meta-analysis of 31 studies found a 24% higher venous thromboembolism risk among the most sedentary people compared with the least, with risk rising about 2% per additional daily hour of sitting. A separate study of 11 adolescents with thrombosis found that eight had lower-limb DVT, though the small sample size limits broader conclusions.
The players
Scientific Reports
An open-access journal published by Nature Portfolio that publishes peer-reviewed research across the natural sciences and medicine.
The details
Experts explained that when a person sits for long periods, blood flow from the legs slows, and walking activates calf muscles that help pump blood back toward the heart. The adolescents in the recent study used digital devices for an average of six hours a day, and many also had inherited thrombophilia.
Timeline
October 8 to 10: Vascular conference held in New Delhi on blood clot risks.
2024: Scientific Reports meta-analysis on sedentary behaviour and venous thromboembolism published.
2026: Study on adolescents with thrombosis and prolonged screen use published.
Big Picture
The 2024 Scientific Reports meta-analysis of 31 studies established a dose-response link between sedentary time and venous thromboembolism. The new warnings extend that evidence to gaming and binge-watching habits among younger people, a population not the focus of the original analysis.
Standing up and walking regularly during long screen sessions activates calf muscles that help move blood back toward the heart. People with known clotting disorders or swelling in one leg should speak with a clinician about their individual risk.
The takeaway
Breaking up long periods of sitting with short walks may help reduce the circulation risks linked to extended screen time. Anyone with unexplained leg pain or swelling should seek medical advice promptly.
Further reading
For related context, see our coverage of Heart Disease.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Times of India.
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