Extended periods of uninterrupted sitting while gaming, attending online classes or binge-watching streaming content may increase the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), including deep vein thrombosis (DVT), among young people, vascular specialists warned at the VSI-ASVS 2026 conference in New Delhi.
The conference, held from October 8 to 10, brought together vascular specialists from India and abroad to discuss emerging challenges and advances in vascular and endovascular surgery.
According to a 2024 systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis published in Scientific Reports, people with the highest levels of sedentary behaviour had approximately 24 per cent higher VTE risk than those with the lowest exposure. The analysis also found that each additional hour of sedentary behaviour per day was associated with an approximately 2 per cent increase in risk.
Prolonged Sitting Can Slow Blood Flow
Deep vein thrombosis occurs when a blood clot forms in a deep vein, commonly in the legs. If the clot travels to the lungs, it can cause a potentially life-threatening pulmonary embolism.
Dr Tapish Sahu, Organising Secretary of VSI-ASVS 2026 and Director and Head of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery at Max Hospital, Delhi, said doctors were increasingly considering prolonged sitting and excessive screen exposure when assessing the lifestyle habits of young patients.
He explained that sitting continuously for four to six hours can reduce the activity of the calf muscles, which help pump blood back towards the heart. Reduced movement can contribute to blood pooling in the deep veins.
Young Age Does Not Eliminate the Risk
Although DVT has traditionally been associated with older age, hospitalisation and prolonged bed rest, younger individuals may also be affected.
Experts cautioned that screen time alone does not necessarily cause blood clots. Prolonged immobility may act as an additional risk factor, particularly in people with obesity, dehydration, smoking habits, hormonal risk factors, inherited clotting disorders or a previous history of thrombosis.
A study examining adolescents with thrombosis identified 11 patients who reported at least four hours of daily screen exposure. Their average device use was approximately six hours a day, while uninterrupted immobility averaged 2.7 hours. Eight patients had lower-limb DVT, two had pulmonary embolism and one had subclavian-vein thrombosis. Researchers also identified inherited thrombophilia in many of these patients, indicating that multiple factors may contribute to clot formation.
Doctors Recommend Regular Movement Breaks
Dr Tarun Grover, Organising Chairman of VSI-ASVS 2026 and Senior Director of Peripheral Vascular and Endovascular Sciences at Medanta, said doctors should ask young patients about their screen-time habits when assessing vascular health.
He noted that prolonged immobility should no longer be considered only in the context of long-distance travel, hospitalisation or bed rest, as extended gaming and streaming sessions can also involve long periods without movement.
Dr Bhupesh Garg, Senior Vascular and Endovascular Surgeon at the Vascular Society of India, said prolonged sitting and smoking could contribute to vascular risks through different mechanisms. He stressed the importance of avoiding several uninterrupted hours of sitting.
Doctors advised young people to take regular movement breaks during gaming, online classes and other screen-based activities, rather than remaining seated for hours at a stretch. They also cautioned that physical activity alone may not completely offset the risks associated with prolonged sedentary behaviour.
The experts emphasised that comparisons between prolonged sitting and smoking should be understood as a public-health warning, not as evidence that the two carry equivalent risks. They called for greater awareness of sedentary behaviour as a potentially modifiable factor in vascular health.