Individual and Community

Long hours at computers may cause blood clots
By Anand Parthasarathy

The Hindu Online edition of India’s National Newspaper
Friday, Jan 31, 2003

Sitting before a computer all day can cause blood clots similar to deep
vein thrombosis (right) afflicting some long-haul airline passengers.
(Photo: University of California, San Diego)

Bangalore Jan. 30. - If your work or life-style demands that you spend long hours in front of a computer, change it. Doctors have found that the activity could cause blood clots in the unmoving lower limbs, then travel upwards into the lungs with possible fatal consequences. The effect is chillingly similar to what is now known as “economy class syndrome” medically known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) that has led to the death of a few airline passengers who spent 12-16 hours cooped up in the cramped economy class seats of long-haul airlines.

In this month’s issue of the European Respiratory Journal, a team of New Zealand-based doctors led by Richard Beasley, reports on the case of a 32-year-old patient developing a life-threatening blood clot because he spent over 12 hours a day seated at his personal computer, rarely standing up in between. Initially he merely suffered from swollen feet, a common experience with middle-aged persons doing sedentary tasks. However, the condition persisted and he lost consciousness after developing breathing trouble. Doctors saved him by administering blood-thinning drugs.
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