A late-night gaming session or another episode of a favourite OTT show may seem harmless. However, sitting for hours without moving can affect vascular health and potentially increase the risk of blood clots, doctors warn. Vascular specialists are increasingly concerned about prolonged sitting among young people as gaming, online education, streaming and computer use become part of everyday life. Although some public health discussions compare prolonged sitting with smoking, experts caution that the two are not scientifically equivalent and affect the body through different mechanisms.
The concern centres on deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a condition in which a blood clot forms in a deep vein, usually in the leg. While DVT commonly occurs in people who are older, hospitalised or bedridden, prolonged inactivity can also contribute to the risk among younger, otherwise healthy individuals. The issue was highlighted at the VSI-ASVS 2026 Conference, held in New Delhi from October 8 to 10, where vascular specialists discussed emerging challenges in vascular and endovascular surgery.
How Prolonged Sitting Can Increase Blood Clot Risk
DVT can obstruct normal blood flow in the affected vein. More importantly, a clot can sometimes break away and travel to the lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism (PE), a potentially life-threatening condition. When a person sits for several hours without moving, the calf muscles become less active. These muscles normally help pump blood from the legs towards the heart. Consequently, prolonged inactivity can slow venous blood flow and encourage blood to pool in the deep veins. However, gaming or binge-watching does not automatically cause a blood clot. The risk may be higher when prolonged sitting occurs alongside other factors, including obesity, smoking, dehydration, certain hormonal risk factors, inherited clotting disorders or a previous history of thrombosis.
Research Links Sedentary Behaviour to Higher VTE Risk
Research has also highlighted a possible association between sedentary behaviour and venous thromboembolism (VTE), which includes DVT and pulmonary embolism. A 2024 systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis published in Scientific Reports examined 25 articles covering 31 studies. The researchers found that people with the highest levels of sedentary behaviour had approximately 24% higher VTE risk than those with the lowest levels.
Furthermore, each additional hour of sedentary behaviour per day was associated with a 2% increase in VTE risk. The association persisted after accounting for physical activity, suggesting that regular exercise may not entirely offset the potential risks associated with prolonged sitting. These findings highlight the importance of reducing uninterrupted sitting, rather than focusing solely on whether a person exercises during the day.
Vascular Specialists Highlight Risks for Young Screen Users
Dr. Tapish Sahu, Organising Secretary of VSI-ASVS 2026 and Director and Head of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery at Max Hospital, New Delhi, said doctors were paying greater attention to lifestyle habits when evaluating symptoms that could indicate vascular problems. “When a young person sits continuously for four, five or six hours playing games or binge-watching OTT content, the calf muscles are barely working as a pump for venous blood. We need to make movement breaks a part of digital life,” he said.
Similarly, Dr. Tarun Grover, Organising Chairman of VSI-ASVS 2026 and Senior Director of Peripheral Vascular and Endovascular Sciences at Medanta, emphasised that prolonged immobility was no longer limited to long-distance travel, hospitalisation or being bedridden. Doctors should also ask younger patients how long they remain seated while using gaming consoles, computers and OTT platforms, he said. A young age should not create a false sense of security, particularly when prolonged sitting coincides with other risk factors.
Adolescent Cases Highlight the Need for Greater Awareness
Research involving adolescents with thrombosis has also raised concerns about prolonged screen exposure and physical inactivity. One study examined 11 adolescents with thrombosis who reported at least four hours of daily screen exposure. Their average digital-device use was approximately six hours a day, while their average period of uninterrupted immobility was 2.7 hours.
Among these patients, eight had DVT in the lower extremities, two had pulmonary embolism and one had thrombosis in the subclavian vein, which runs beneath the collarbone. Researchers also identified inherited thrombophilia, a predisposition to blood clotting, in many of the patients. However, these findings do not establish that screen time alone caused the blood clots. Instead, they suggest that prolonged immobility may contribute to the risk, particularly among people with an underlying susceptibility to thrombosis.
Is Sitting as Harmful as Smoking?
The phrase “sitting is the new smoking” is often used to draw attention to the health consequences of a sedentary lifestyle. Nevertheless, doctors caution against interpreting this comparison literally. Smoking and prolonged sitting affect the body through different mechanisms. Although both may contribute to health risks, the evidence does not establish that sitting for a specific number of hours carries the same risk as smoking a particular number of cigarettes.
The 24% higher VTE risk reported in the 2024 meta-analysis compares people with the highest levels of sedentary behaviour with those with the lowest levels. It does not mean that sitting for four hours carries the same risk as smoking four cigarettes. As reported by indiatoday.in, the findings instead reinforce the importance of combining regular physical activity with frequent movement breaks throughout the day.