Is E-Thrombosis Real?

E-thrombosis is a lesser-known variant of deep vein thrombosis that can occur after spending extended periods of time sitting in front of a computer without movement.

Although not a widespread phenomenon, the danger of suffering an e-thrombosis is very real. Both average computer users and geeks who are glued to their desktop or laptop for hours and hours without taking breaks have died from e-thrombosis.

Few cases of e-thrombosis have been officially documented over the last decade but considering the widespread use of personal computers both at work and at home gives rise to the assumption that the incidence of e-thrombosis may be much more frequent than one would expect.

E-thrombosis is a modern term that was first fashioned by doctors in New Zealand under the leadership of Prof. Richard Beasley to define the link between sitting in front of a computer for extended periods and the occurrence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) as a result of it.

What is Thrombosis and why is it Dangerous?

Thrombosis is the formation of a blood clot (most often in the veins of the legs) because of impaired and inadequate blood flow due to sedentariness and prolonged immobility.  A study conducted several years ago revealed that just less than two hours of motionless sitting can reduce the blood flow in the deep vein located behind the knee (popliteal vein) by 40%, which can significantly increase the risk of the formation of a blood clot.

The real danger of such a blood clot is that it could break loose and travel through the veins to the heart and to the lungs where it could become lodged.  The condition of a blood clot lodged in the lungs is also known as pulmonary embolism (PE), which can cause serious damage to the affected lung.  If the blockage from the blood clot(s) is too large it may potentially cut off the entire blood supply to the lungs, which would likely cause death.

E-thrombosis is a danger to your health similar to deep vein thrombosis (formation of a blood clot in one of the deeper veins), which can be caused by long periods of immobility on a flight, a long train ride or bus trip. This condition is also commonly known as economy class syndrome.

The fact that there are relatively few reported cases tends to lull unwary individuals into believing that “this could never happen to me”.  Nevertheless, the old saying “better safe than sorry” may be more applicable here.  There are simple steps anybody can take to significantly reduce the risk of getting a blood clot in the veins of your legs.

To find out what steps you can take to significantly reduce the risk of e-thrombosis and how compression stockings can be helpful please follow the link below to read our article titled…

“Economy Class Syndrome” or Blood Clots from DVT can Strike even when you are not Flying – Tips on How You Can Protect Yourself Against a Potentially Life Threatening Blood Clot