PSA: Get off your a**

[highland145]

For the last 23 years, I have been working a job where I sit a lot, at a desk or in the car. Started having pain in the back of my thighs about a year ago. Ignored it, changed my sitting position, propped my feet up, etc. When I stand, it immediately goes away. Noticed veins bulging in my calves so I finally go to the Dr. It appears I have damaged the valves by the backed up blood flow which could cause blood clots/ deep vein thrombosis. If it gets worse, I'll be fitted for some stylish compression stockings. The hotties ignore me now but with those on......aw, crap.

So, for the one or two computer nerds around here, GET UP every once in a while.

 

[Megatomic]

I made the big lifestyle change 4 years ago, I barely sit down now. No gaming. No programming (at home anyways). No web pages.

Sorry to hear about the issues highland145, hopefully you caught it soon enough.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Yeah, if I remember correctly the AHA or ACSM or some other organization suggests that you get up and move every hour at the very least. If blood sits in one place for too long, blood clots are always a problem. I'm sorry to hear about your situation, but some compression pants wouldn't be too bad. I know that there are better looking options out there nowadays than stockings.

 

[SludgeFactory]

Ironically, too much standing can get you too. Position change is important. Every so often it's best if you do something where you're actively working the lower leg musculature (e.g. walking) to get some muscle-pump action going. Ankle pumps will do in a pinch.

Obesity is a big risk factor and is probably primarily responsible for a lot of cases of venous stasis. Tobacco use is another. Height (tall) is also a risk factor.

You can actually get 20/30 compression socks (knee height, crew height, etc) that look just like regular cotton socks. If you're standing up all the time on the job, it's not a bad idea to wear them.

 

[SearchMaster]

I have a desk job but fortunately I'm too ADD to sit still for more than 30 minutes at a time.

Just curious, OP, are you overweight - did extra weight pushing on your legs contribute to the problem?

 

[highland145]

I have a desk job but fortunately I'm too ADD to sit still for more than 30 minutes at a time.

Just curious, OP, are you overweight - did extra weight pushing on your legs contribute to the problem?

I've got skinny legs and tend to put on fat in the gut. The weight has fluctuated over the years with an extreme high of 230, 1/07. But I probably average 210 over the last 15 years. I'm 6'1" and currently 195. I never have smoked. I have a short torso and long legs so I have my chair height up so I am comfortable at my desk, which squeezed my legs between the chair and desk. Never occurred to me that it would cause a problem.

Maybe I can get some leopard print. That will turn them on.

Thanks all.

 

[Whisper]

Yeah, it's a bit odd to think about, but veins really have no way to independently get blood back to the heart; they generally depend on surrounding musculature to "pump" things where they need to be. Getting up and walking around for a bit every 45-60 minutes can definitely help with that whole process. It also prevents your brain from getting overloaded with new information and/or bored to death.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Yeah, it's a bit odd to think about, but veins really have no way to independently get blood back to the heart; they generally depend on surrounding musculature to "pump" things where they need to be. Getting up and walking around for a bit every 45-60 minutes can definitely help with that whole process. It also prevents your brain from getting overloaded with new information and/or bored to death.

Well, they have a gradient to return blood to the heart, but veins are very easily occluded. Since veins can expand a ton without changing their pressure very much (high capacitance), blood gets stuck and you get edema to an extent. You do have one-way valves in your veins that rely on skeletal muscle to increase the amount of blood that gets back to your heart, but those are most important in exercise. You're right that you've gotta walk around - to the bathroom, the water cooler, the break room, nowhere - and just keep moving.

 

[Titan]

If you drink enough water and get up every hour to pee, you should be ok! Seriously, no, that's a bad idea as it means you might have slight bladder damage. Still between lunch breaks and a couple pee breaks you should move around enough. I like doing a set of 10 bw squats after every time I go pee. It gets the blood flowing, and more importantly, tightens your butt, which gets stretched out from sitting on your arse all day.

 

[borisvodofsky]

OH SHEEETTT.. . does this apply to you if you work out hardcore, once a day?

 

[SociallyChallenged]

OH SHEEETTT.. . does this apply to you if you work out hardcore, once a day?

Yes. Sitting for a long while results in poor circulation back to the heart. That's independent of whether you work out or not.