Desk DVT a 'serious problem'
15/03/2007 13:33

Workers spending hours sat behind their desk are at a greater risk from developing deep vain thrombosis (DVT), recent research has suggested.

Dubbed e-thrombosis, the condition has been brought to the attention of the masses after one man developed DVT after spending eight hours sat at his desk.

The clot had moved into his lungs by the time doctors treated him and they warned that had it reached his brain he would almost certainly have died.

DVT is normally associated with long-haul flights where passengers are placed in small spaces for a prolonged period of time. This leads to circulation problems and clots developing in the blood.

However, the Medical Research Institute in Wellington, New Zealand has found that spending hours at a time sat at your office furniture can have a similar effect.

Dr Beverley Hunt, medical director for thrombosis charity Lifeblood, said: "Sitting for very long periods in an office has never been considered a risk before, but immobility is a key factor in causing thrombosis."

This poses a major health risk for thousands of workers around the UK who spend prolonged periods of time tied to their desk.

The study has led Dr John Scurr, a consultant vascular surgeon at London's Lister Hospital, to state: "Potentially this is a big problem with millions at risk because the trend is for a sedentary lifestyle, particularly at work, where long hours sitting in front of a screen are the norm.

"In the last nine months I've seen around seven cases of people suffering from this."

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