How telly addicts can see risk of DVT double

SPENDING too long in front of the television can dramatically raise your risk of developing deep vein thrombosis.

people who watch TV ‘very often’ are 71 per cent more likely to get a potentially fatal blood clot in their leg, a study found.

this can result in either DVT or a pulmonary embolism – a blood clot that dislodges from the leg and travels to the lungs.

A Us study shows that even fit people are at risk. Lead author Kasuhiko Kubota said regular exercise did not reduce ‘ the potential harms of prolonged sedentary behaviours such as TV

‘Exercise does not reduce harm’

viewing’. Although obesity was a factor in some cases, the risk was still higher whether or not the victim had been overweight.

the University of Minnesota asked 15,000 people aged between 45 and 64 how often they watched TV. those who said ‘very often’ were 1.7 times more likely to suffer a blood clot than those who said ‘seldom’ or ‘never’.

there were a total of 691 DVT or pulmonary embolism cases in the study, the Journal of thrombosis and thrombolysis said.

prolonged sitting disrupts blood flow through the legs and feet. Others known to be at risk are post-operative patients and long-haul jet passengers.

DVT affects 60,000 Britons a year and starts with pain, swelling and a heavy leg ache.