Sedentary life can double blood clot risk

Experts found that sitting down for more than 41 hours a week outside of work increases the chance of suffering a potentially fatal blood clot in the lungs.

The study, on almost 70,000 women, found that those who sit for long periods are two to three times more likely to develop a clot than those who sit for less than 10 hours outside of work.

It is thought to be the first study of its kind to find a link between a sedentary lifestyle and pulmonary embolism.

But the researchers, writing in the British Medical Journal do say the risk is small and is only slightly higher than that for people who fly long haul or women who take the Pill.

Natasha Stewart, senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said: “We have to be slightly cautious about this research because it only focused on women over the age of 55.”