Perhaps you have heard about it on television, this recent phenomenon of people suffering serious illness, and even death, as a result of blood circulatory problems. In this modern age of travel and jobs that require less physical labor, we are fast becoming a sedentary race, and unfortunately this is causing various health issues like deep vein thrombosis. Fortunately, this is an easily preventable condition that doesn't take much work.
What is Deep Vein Thrombosis?
Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT) is a condition defined by a blood clot, or thrombus, forming in a deep vein. Commonly affecting the leg veins, such as the femoral, popliteal, or the deep veins of the pelvic region, DVT can prove fatal if the clot makes it way into the blood. Clots may become caught in the veins and block circulation, or enter the heart and cause death. Therefore, it is always important to maintain good circulation and keep the blood clear. Consulting a physician or licensed therapist can help determine the best methods for staying healthy.
What causes Deep Vein Thrombosis?
While recent research shows that various factors prove to put a person at risk for DVT, a more common cause for deep vein thrombosis is inactivity. The less you move, the slower your blood circulates, thereby increasing the chances for clots to form. Business travelers, people who spend long hours in cramped airplane seats or in cars, and people confined to wheelchairs are especially at risk if they are unable to regularly circulate the blood in their legs.
Therefore, it is always recommended for people who are confined to desks and chairs to take advantage of quick breaks to get the blood flowing again. Even in an airplane, it is possible to stand up and move slightly around the cabin, if only to stimulate blood flow in the lower half of the body and prevent numbness.
Alternating Pressure and DVT
Ergonomic devices at work and home are always a plus. An alternating pressure cushion, for one, can improve circulation during times of inactivity.
Alternating pressure refers to a device that inflates and deflates in sections. Think of an air mattress or air seat cushion. As one pocket, the air is stagnant and does not move. When you sit on one, it may feel like sitting on an elevated version of the chair. Circulation remains the same.
Alternating pressure, however, works in a cushion devised of two or more air bladders interconnected to alternate inflating and deflating. Some bladders rise while others fall, and vice versa. This constant movement in a cushion lifts and shifts the body in place, so even though one is sitting there is opportunity for better circulation.
Where there is better blood flow, naturally, there is less discomfort. Alternating pressure keeps the blood moving and the skin healthy, allowing it to breathe. When skin breathes, it maintains a healthy color and elasticity. The blood flows and has less opportunity to clot, thereby decreasing risk of DVT.
For the constant traveler and the cubicle worker, an alternating pressure device can be handy in eliminating the risk of blood clots in the legs, and in turn preventing serious conditions.
Health and safety covers many factors in the office from the expected DSE risk assessment to how to use basic office equipment, sensible use of chairs and how to avoid things that could cause accidents. DSE risk assessment will cover the opinion of health professionals about how long it is healthy to be sitting in one position and the recommendation is that we take regular breaks from our desk throughout the day. This is said to relieve the possibility of back ache and eye strain.
But there is a much more life threatening reason we should be taking note of this aspect of DSE risk assessment. It has been found that office workers are highly susceptible to deep vein thrombosis. Normally, DVT is associated with long haul flights but if you think about it, sitting on a plane is no different from sitting at your desk if there is insufficient leg movement.
The risk of blood clots in the legs or lung, which can prove fatal, could be doubled in office workers who do not take enough breaks. It is serious enough to be given its own tag of e-thrombosis, covering anyone sitting working at a computer all day. Long periods of immobility cause blood clots to form. If they travel to the lung they can cause the lungs to collapse or the heart to stop.
If this condition goes unnoticed until it is too late, up to thirty percent of sufferers will die and that is a serious amount of people that should have this danger pointed out to them during DSE risk assessment.
Frequent foot and leg exercises, even whilst sitting at the desk will help a great deal, flexing and pointing of the feet is one useful way of keeping the blood flowing freely but it is much more beneficial to get up and walk around for a few minutes every half hour. This is easier said than done. Once at your desk and involved in your workload for that day, the next thing you know its lunch time and you havent moved more than your fingertips. Walking around, even just for a few minutes, at regular intervals throughout the day will suffice in the fight against DVT. However, try to avoid taking walks around the car park.
Traffic fumes will increase the risk of blood clots because of the amount of extra pollution in the air. And, of course, this pollution will be intensified in the slow moving traffic of the office car park. This is one thing that DSE risk assessment will not tell you about because the office itself does not suffer traffic pollution. Tiny particles within the fumes have been found to contribute to DVT.
What DSE risk assessment will cover however, is the incidents of slips and trips within the office. It is absolutely essential that no trailing flexes are left laying around and the same applies to peoples bags or anything that might possibly cause a trip hazard.
This is because even a sprained ankle can lead to an increased risk of DVT. In a survey of 2,500 DVT patients it was discovered that twelve percent had suffered a minor leg injury at some point in the three months before the clot.
So, if you have just come back from a long haul flight, are on the contraceptive pill, walk through traffic fumes on the way to work and then sit in the office all day, you really should take a closer look at your lifestyle if you want to avoid deep vein thrombosis.
Both Kathryn Lively & Ben Needles are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Kathryn Lively has sinced written about articles on various topics from Lose Weight, Laptops and Advertising Guide. Kathryn Lively writes for FlowCushion, the alternating pressure point for work and driving.. Kathryn Lively's top article generates over 673000 views. to your Favourites.
Ben Needles has sinced written about articles on various topics from Business Credit Cards, Anger Control and Business Credit Cards. About the Author (text)Health and safety expert Catherine Harvey looks at how tips from DSE risk assessment can help to counteract DVT among office workers. To find out more please visit. Ben Needles's top article generates over 550000 views. to your Favourites.