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View Full Version : Sitting Too Long Can Cause Rogue Blood Clots—And More!



Islander
04-01-10, 10:56 AM
http://www.healthiertalk.com
By Dr. Michael Cutler (http://www.healthiertalk.com/users/truehealth) on 03/31/2010

Research indicates sitting for long periods of time—even if you exercise regularly—can be extremely bad for your health. It could even prove deadly. Many studies are now suggesting that those who sit most of their days are more likely to be overweight, develop blood clots, have a heart attack, develop certain types of cancer or even die.
Researchers report that a sedentary lifestyle is not just a lifestyle lacking in exercise. Rather, it is a set of behaviors that are devoid of whole-body muscle movement and promote bad health. So if you sit for hours watching TV… take long plane or car rides… work long hours sitting at your desk or a computer… or keep your legs and ankles crossed whenever you sit, you could be endangering your health. When you sit for a long period of time, your blood flow can become sluggish and pool in your larger veins. This creates a higher risk of your developing blood clots within your thigh or calf known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT)—a condition in which there is a blood clot in a deep vein (a vein that accompanies an artery).
Close to 2 million people in the United States (U.S.) develop DVT each year, most of whom are 40 years old or older. There is the danger that a leg clot can break free and travel through the blood vessels to the lung, which can be extremely serious and even fatal. At least 200,000 people die each year from blood clots in their lungs—a condition known as a pulmonary embolism (PE).
But there are natural ways you can avoid becoming a statistic…
Stand, stretch and bend your toes.
Walk around every hour or so, if possible.
If walking is not an option, then stretch or bounce your legs, wiggle and flex your toes and roll your ankles backward and forward.
Keep your weight under control.
Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration that causes blood vessels to become narrow and blood to thicken.
Take all-natural blood thinners such as nattokinase.Now would those of you who value your health, please stand up?


Michael Cutler, M.D. is a board certified family physician with more than 20 years experience specializing in chronic degenerative diseases, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue.

A graduate of Brigham Young University, Tulane Medical School and Natividad Medical Center Family Practice Residency in Salinas, Calif., he serves as a medical liaison to alternative and traditional practicing physicians. His practice focuses on an integrative solution to health problems.

http://www.healthiertalk.com/sitting-too-long-can-cause-rogue-blood-clots-and-more-1606

Grandma
04-01-10, 05:15 PM
Islander,
Recently I flew on a 90 min. flight and my caves were feeling tight. Does that have anything to do with blood clots? They ached some but mostly felt tight. I moved my legs up and down and bounced some.
I do worry about that especially flying from place to place. If I have time in the airport before catching my connection I walk most of the time I have before flights. Most of the time I take an aspirn just before a flight.

Islander
04-01-10, 06:32 PM
It may well be your legs demanding to be used! I usually sleep in flights, but on the 26-hour flight to China I got up and walked the aisles from time to time. Those cabin seats are not all that comfortable to begin with. And I do take nattokinase.

Grandma
04-02-10, 08:50 AM
It may well be your legs demanding to be used! I usually sleep in flights, but on the 26-hour flight to China I got up and walked the aisles from time to time. Those cabin seats are not all that comfortable to begin with. And I do take nattokinase.

I had never heard of Nattokinase before. I assume you get it at the health food stores. I think I will have to try it on my next flight which will be in two weeks and a 4 hour flight. Thanks a lot....

Reesacat
04-02-10, 10:10 AM
You can also move your legs while sitting-rotate your feet, flex the feet, lift up the foot, extend leg out, etc.
If you have compression stockings a good time to wear them is during flights. You can get knee-high compression socks at medical supply stores and on-line.
And drink lots of water!

Aaltrude
04-02-10, 02:54 PM
If you have compression stockings a good time to wear them is during flights. You can get knee-high compression socks at medical supply stores and on-line.
And drink lots of water!

I thought I had heard or read somewhere recently that compression stockings were now thought to be contraindicated. Has anyone else heard anything?? This would make more sense to me. How is anything that compresses going to help blood flow. I would have thought the opposite would apply - like tight jeans. I don't have time to research it at the moment.

DizzyIzzy
04-02-10, 06:10 PM
I wear compression stockings when flying long-haul (i.e. to the UK - around 26 hours in the air!), and they do seem to help. I have small varicose veins on each leg though, which they help as they graduate the compression upwards which aids your veins in getting the blood back up and not letting it pool in the crap veins.

Not so keen on the original article though - given the vast majority of people DO sit for hours on end at desks, in front of TVs, in movie theatres, whatever, and the scaremongering tone of it (you might even die!), all that's doing is telling everybody they're gonna get really sick from something they can't help doing.... going with Biology of Belief and the work of Dr Lipton et al, if somebody believes they're going to get sick or something will cause them harm, then that's the message they're sending their cells and the chances are it will start manifesting.

And what about everybody who sleeps for 8 or 9 hours a night?!

EmmaPeel
04-02-10, 08:08 PM
I wear compression stockings when flying long-haul (i.e. to the UK - around 26 hours in the air!), and they do seem to help. I have small varicose veins on each leg though, which they help as they graduate the compression upwards which aids your veins in getting the blood back up and not letting it pool in the crap veins.

Not so keen on the original article though - given the vast majority of people DO sit for hours on end at desks, in front of TVs, in movie theatres, whatever, and the scaremongering tone of it (you might even die!), all that's doing is telling everybody they're gonna get really sick from something they can't help doing.... going with Biology of Belief and the work of Dr Lipton et al, if somebody believes they're going to get sick or something will cause them harm, then that's the message they're sending their cells and the chances are it will start manifesting.

And what about everybody who sleeps for 8 or 9 hours a night?!

Yes you are correct Diz. Long compression stockings are used to push blood up and out, but if you are still sitting and perhaps may be overweight, the blood will not move efficiently past your groin/pelvis. In fact, what could happen is that blood moves up from the feet and legs and pools in the pelvis if you do not move around. Same thing applies to short knee high stockings.

I would suggest that moving around/walking regularly on long flights, avoiding salty snacks pre-during-post flight and take aspirin, if it is not contraindicated, as the thing to do in part of your personal regime.

Lipton is a pivotal authority on wellness. What he says makes a ton of sense insofar as people create their own reality and health based on how they perceive their environment as safe or threatening. As Katie mentioned in another thread, something akin to peoples belief(s) towards what they perceive as healthy, effect how they respond and react.

Rule of thumb: whether sitting in front of the TV, computer, desk, on a plane, on a train, in a boat, or whatever...remember to stretch your legs at least every 30 minutes or so.:)

DizzyIzzy
04-02-10, 08:35 PM
I have to admit, when flying long-haul I get so restless (and I can't sleep) that I do spend most of it standing up talking to people in the aisles and at the ends of them near the kitchen, ha. Nothing more boring than long-haul, uurgh.

MissHealthy
04-03-10, 04:00 AM
Oh My GOD!
Thanks a million Islander for sharing such a useful information. Its not like i am hearing this for the first time that sitting more can cause danger to your health. I heard that long ago but then put that back somewhere.
This short article of your was for the people like me, who used to sit almost 7-8 hours a day in front of PC. But what can be done if you have a job which is incomplete without sitting in front of PC banghead
Yeah! You are right, those instructions (walking and exercising your legs and toes which i am going to practice right from today )
Thanks again :)