Long hours of sitting as harmful as smoking? Gaming, OTT binge-watching may raise blood clot risk

Vascular experts warn that prolonged screen time, gaming and binge-watching can contribute to deep vein thrombosis (DVT). A 2024 review found a 24% higher risk of venous thromboembolism among people with the highest levels of sedentary behaviour.Long hours of sitting as harmful as smoking? Gaming, OTT binge-watching may raise blood clot risk (File Image)New Delhi,Oct 9, 2026 14:30 ISTA gaming session that stretches into the night or one more episode of a favourite OTT show may seem harmless. But when hours pass without getting up, the lack of movement can have consequences for vascular health, doctors warn. Experts are increasingly raising concerns about prolonged sitting, with some comparing its health risks to those associated with smoking. However, the comparison is a public-health warning, not a literal scientific equivalence between sitting for hours and smoking a specific number of cigarettes.Vascular specialists are increasingly drawing attention to prolonged sitting among young people, particularly as gaming, streaming, online education and computer use become part of everyday life. While deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a condition in which a blood clot forms in a deep vein, is often associated with older age, hospitalisation or being bedridden, experts say prolonged inactivity can also be a concern for younger, otherwise healthy individuals.The warning was raised at the VSI-ASVS 2026 Conference, being held in New Delhi from October 8 to 10, where vascular specialists are discussing emerging challenges in vascular and endovascular surgery.DVT most commonly affects the legs and can obstruct normal blood flow. The danger is that a clot can sometimes break away and travel to the lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism, a potentially life-threatening condition. Doctors stress that gaming or binge-watching does not automatically cause a blood clot. However, sitting still for several hours can become an additional risk factor, particularly in people who also have obesity, dehydration, smoke, have certain hormonal risk factors, inherited clotting disorders or a previous history of thrombosis.PROLONGED SITTING AND BLOOD CLOT RISKThe concern is backed by research. A 2024 systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis published in Scientific Reports, which examined 25 articles covering 31 studies, found that people with the highest levels of sedentary behaviour had an approximately 24% higher risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) than those with the lowest levels. The researchers also found that every additional hour of sedentary behaviour per day was associated with a 2% increase in VTE risk. The association remained even after accounting for physical activity, suggesting that exercising during part of the day may not entirely offset the potential risks associated with prolonged sitting.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 increasingly looking at patients' lifestyle habits when assessing symptoms that could point to 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.The calf muscles play an important role in helping blood return from the legs towards the heart. When a person remains seated for long periods without moving their legs, this muscle pump becomes less active, slowing venous blood flow and potentially contributing to blood pooling in the deep veins.Dr Tarun Grover, Organising Chairman of VSI-ASVS 2026 and Senior Director of Peripheral Vascular and Endovascular Sciences at Medanta, said prolonged immobility was no longer limited to situations such as long-distance travel, hospitalisation or being bedridden.Doctors now also need to ask younger patients how long they spend continuously sitting in front of gaming consoles, computers and OTT screens, he said. A young age, he added, should not create a false sense of security, especially when prolonged sitting is combined with other risk factors.WHAT RESEARCH ON ADOLESCENTS FOUNDResearch examining adolescents with thrombosis has also raised questions about prolonged digital exposure and physical inactivity.One study identified 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 duration of uninterrupted immobility was 2.7 hours.Of these 11 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, or a predisposition to blood clotting, in many of the patients.The findings do not establish that screen time alone caused the clots. Instead, they underline the possibility that prolonged immobility may act as a trigger or add to the risk in people who are already vulnerable.Dr Tarun Grover, Organising Chairman of VSI-ASVS 2026 and Senior Director of Peripheral Vascular and Endovascular Sciences at Medanta, said prolonged immobility was no longer limited to situations such as long-distance travel, hospitalisation or being bedridden.Doctors now also need to ask younger patients how long they spend continuously sitting in front of gaming consoles, computers and OTT screens, he said. A young age, he added, should not create a false sense of security, especially when prolonged sitting is combined with other risk factors.WHY THE COMPARISON WITH SMOKING NEEDS CONTEXTThe phrase “sitting is the new smoking” is often used to warn people about the health consequences of a sedentary lifestyle. However, doctors caution against interpreting the comparison literally.Prolonged sitting is not scientifically equivalent to smoking, and the two affect the body through different mechanisms. The concern is that both can contribute to health risks, including vascular problems, in different ways.The 24% higher VTE risk reported in the 2024 meta-analysis refers to people with the highest levels of sedentary behaviour compared with those with the lowest levels. It does not mean that sitting for four hours carries the same risk as smoking four cigarettes.The findings also highlight why physical activity and reducing uninterrupted sitting both matter. Being active at one point during the day may not fully counterbalance the potential risks associated with remaining seated for long stretches.HOW TO MAKE SCREEN TIME LESS SEDENTARYDoctors say the message is not that young people need to give up gaming or OTT entertainment, but that movement should become part of these activities.Taking regular breaks from sitting, getting up to walk around and moving the legs during extended screen sessions can help interrupt prolonged inactivity. People should also pay attention to other factors that may increase their risk of blood clots and seek medical advice if they have concerns.The issue extends beyond entertainment. A young person may spend hours sitting in class or attending online lectures, followed by computer work, gaming, social media and streaming. Together, these activities can add up to a large part of the day spent with very little movement.As screen-based routines become increasingly common, vascular specialists say prolonged sitting deserves greater attention as a potentially modifiable risk factor. The takeaway is simple: regular exercise matters, but so does avoiding long, uninterrupted periods of sitting.- Ends