Sedentary lifestyle could lead to blood clots

Regularly sitting for long periods of time could lead to an increased risk of developing blood clots in the lungs.

Research has found that women who lead sedentary lifestyles are three times more likely than those with active lifestyles to develop a pulmonary embolism. Pulmonary embolisms are clots which form in the blood vessels which supply blood to the lungs, and in the majority of cases these clots will form in the legs.

Scientists based in the US looked at the lifestyles of nearly 70,000 female nurses over an 18-year period and the findings have now been published in the British Medical Journal. Women at the highest risk were those who spent 41 hours or more a week sitting down outside of work, with those sitting for less than 10 hours a week being the least at risk of developing potentially fatal clots.

The study took into account other lifestyle issues, including smoking, drinking and diet, and found that the results still stood.