The only time your boss can’t argue if you put your feet up in the office

I WOULDN’T recommend putting your feet up at work, unless you’re determined to annoy your boss.

However, there is one valid reason for giving it a go – on medical grounds at least.

A middle-aged patient had developed what I suspected was deep vein thrombosis (DVT), when a clot formed in the veins in his leg.

There are a number of reasons why this can happen, such as having “sticky” blood, but the most common is immobility.

Unlike the arteries, veins in the legs need muscle movement to keep the blood flowing normally.

Having motionless legs for a couple of hours means slower blood flow in the deep veins and an increased risk of blood clots.

You’ve probably heard that travellers on long-haul flights are at risk.

But the most common cause is surgery because the legs are effectively paralysed under anaesthetic.

My patient had developed pains in his left calf after a long car journey and initially thought it was a muscle strain, until his calf swelled up and became inflamed. Tests at the hospital were positive for DVT.

He was prescribed a course of anticoagulant medicines to help thin his blood and give his body a chance to break down the clot. DVT can be dangerous. Untreated, the troublesome clot can travel to the lung and become stuck, which can be potentially fatal.

Compression stockings should be worn for two years after a case of DVT to prevent pain and swelling and reduce the risk of further problems.

And, of course, the leg in question should be raised when resting.

Time, then, to put your feet up.