Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at PhotobucketI’m putting on my health-writer cap to ask you an important question today: Sit much?

As a writer, I’ll bet you do. It’s important to chat about, because anyone who sits for long periods of time can be at risk for a condition called deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Large blood clots can form in the deep veins of inactive legs. Though some clots never become dangerous, others break off and can lead to a stroke, heart attack or most commonly a “lung attack” (pulmonary embolism).

If you’ve heard of DVT, and 60% of Americans haven’t, you may remember that it’s associated with long plane rides; but it’s not just an economy class problem. Research out of the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand shows that a full third of people admitted to the hospital for DVT are office workers who spend a lot of time with butt-in-chair.

Oh, no.

Does this mean you’ve got to shelve your latest work? No, but you should be aware of the risk and know what you can do to decrease yours. The key is simple:

Move. Don’t let yourself go for 3 and 4 hours without getting up and stretching; in fact, you should stand and walk around for at least a few minutes every hour. If you must be in your seat, move your legs anyway. Come on now, everyone, knees together, apart, together, apart; toes up and flex your ankles, relax, flex, relax.

Really, though, DVT is no laughing matter; in fact pulmonary embolism steals more lives annually than the combined devastation of breast cancer and AIDS. If you smoke, stop (smoking can increase your risk for clots). The Mayo Clinic suggests drinking plenty of water throughout the day, since dehydration can encourage clotting, and avoiding tight-waisted clothing. If you think you’re at risk, talk to your doctor. S/he may prescribe meds to help thin your blood or advise you to wear special stockings to help keep your blood on the move.

Want to learn more about DVT? Check out the The Coalition to Prevent Deep-Vein Thrombosis HERE and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute HERE.

Love a fellow writer? March is DVT Awareness Month, so go on and forward this post. After you stand up and shake out those legs, of course.

Write on, all!

Therese Walsh co-founded Writer Unboxed in 2006. Her debut novel, The Last Will of Moira Leahy, sold to Random House in a two-book deal in 2008, was named one of January Magazine’s Best Books of 2009, and was a Target Breakout Book in 2010. She's never been published with a lit magazine, but LOST's Carlton Cuse liked her haiku best on Twitter, and that made her pretty happy.
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