BLOOD CLOT RISKS AT THE OFFICE

 
Sitting at your desk for hours at a time could double your risk of dangerous blood clots, according to new research from New Zealand. 

Researchers looked at work-place inactivity as a risk factor for venous thromboembolism (VTE). They found that people who sat eight hours a day, including at least three hours at a time without getting up, had twice the risk of VTE as more active workers. 

To put that in perspective, prolonged travel is associated with a five-fold increase of VTE. It can be hard to keep active if you have an office job, but little changes can make a big difference. 

Study author Professor Richard Beasley from the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand recommends workers get up from their desks at least every hour and move their feet from time to time while seated. 
 
KEEP MOVING

• Stand up from your desk at least once an hour - walk to the kitchen, pop out for a coffee or take the stairs to the floor above you and back.
• Walk over to a colleague rather than send an e-mail. Better still, go for a quick walk with your colleague while you talk.
• While seated, regularly circle your feet in both directions and stretch your hands, arms and torso.