Binge-watching TV can significantly increase risk of blood clot in middle-age, study suggests

Researchers warn that long periods of TV watching should be interspersed with stretching and movement, Thomas Kingsley reports

Adults who watch TV for prolonged periods are over a third more likely to develop blood clots than others (Getty/iStock)

A new study has found that binge-watching TV can increase the risk of blood-clot by 35 per cent in adults spending four or more hours in front of the TV compared to adults watching for less than two and a half hours.

Researchers from the University of Bristol found that prolonged TV viewing involving extensive sitting can lead to clots developing in the lungs and legs. Lead researcher Dr. Setor Kunutsor, a senior lecturer at the university’s medical school said people need to take breaks to stretch and walk in between long periods of watching TV.

Scientists have known for years that prolonged sitting can increase the risk of blood clots, known as venous thromboembolism (VTE), which kills an estimated 25,000 people in England every year.

In the UK, up to one in every 1,000 people are affected by blood clots with VTE the leading cause of hospital deaths that can be prevented.

Long periods of inactivity cause blood to pool in the lower extremities leading to clots. It’s for this reason that airplane passengers are encouraged to move frequently in long haul flights.

“If you are going to binge on TV you need to take breaks,” Dr Kunutsor said. He added: “You can stand and stretch every 30 minutes or use a stationary bike. And avoid combining television with unhealthy snacking.”

Physically active adults are not eliminated from the study’s findings and are also being urged to take regular breaks between TV series.

Dr Kunutsor said: “The findings indicate that regardless of physical activity, your BMI, how old you are and your gender, watching many hours of television is a risky activity with regards to developing blood clots.”

The review, published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, examined three previous studies with a total of 131,421 participants from the US and Japan aged 40 or older who had no prior clotting diagnosis.

They were quizzed on their TV viewing habits and subsequently divided into “prolonged viewers” for adults watching at least four hours of TV a day, and “seldom viewers” for adults watching less than two and a half hours per day.

Researchers detected 964 blood clot cases after monitoring the participants for between five and 20 years. “Prolonged viewers” were found to be 1.35 times more likely to develop clots than “seldom viewers.”

Dr Kunutsor and his team found that although the increased risk among those who watch more TV could also be down to lifestyle factors, prolonged sitting - even for work - could be a risk leading to clots.

He advised people who sit in front of a computer for long periods to also get up and move around regularly during work.