The growing trend of screen usage in India is negatively affecting vascular health. Vascular specialists warn that long hours spent at desks, playing online games, and watching series on streaming platforms lead people to spend hours sitting. This reduces leg activity and slows blood flow in the veins, causing problems such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
The Indian Society of Vascular Surgeons has issued a warning regarding this situation.
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a condition where a blood clot forms in the deep veins of the body, usually in the legs, which can disrupt normal blood flow. If DVT is not treated, this clot can travel to the lungs and cause a serious blockage, which is life-threatening. Previously, DVT was considered a problem associated with age or hospitalization, but it is now observed in healthy individuals as well. Experts attribute this to insufficient physical activity and prolonged sitting.
According to a study published in the journal 'Scientific Reports', people who sat the most had a 24% higher risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Furthermore, researchers found that with each additional hour of sitting per day, the risk of VTE increased by 2%. The study indicated that the habit of sitting for long periods contributes to the development of deep vein thrombosis.
Dr. Tapish Sahu, Secretary of the Organizing Committee of VSI-ASVS 2026 and Director of the Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery at Max Hospital in New Delhi, reported seeing young patients in his outpatient practice exhibiting symptoms similar to DVT. He links this to prolonged sitting at work, excessive screen time, and extended gaming sessions.
Dr. Tarun Grover, Senior Director of Peripheral Vascular and Endovascular Sciences, noted that he encounters patients in his clinic who require vascular tests. During examinations, he asks how many hours a day patients spend working at a desk or in front of OTT screens. Since prolonged sitting increases the risk of venous thromboembolism by 24%, these habits need to be reduced. Patients often believe it is safe, whereas it can lead to the formation of clots in the body.
Dr. Bupesh Garg, Senior Vascular and Endovascular Surgeon at the Indian Society of Vascular Surgeons, emphasized that just as smoking increases the risk of vascular problems and thrombosis, prolonged sitting can also increase the likelihood of forming a blood clot, albeit through different mechanisms. When a person remains in a seated position for many hours, the activity of the calf muscles (calf muscle pump) decreases, blood flow from the legs through the veins slows down, and blood can stagnate in the deep veins.