Teen Hospitalised With Blood Clot After Spending Hours Lying Down On His Phone During School Break

We all enjoy spending a lazy day in bed scrolling on our phones. But staying still for too long may come with some unexpected health risks.

A high school student in Zhejiang, China, reportedly spent much of his summer break lying in bed, scrolling on his phone and gaming for more than five hours a day with very little physical activity.

About two weeks later, his right calf became swollen and painful. The discomfort worsened to the point where he struggled to walk.

His family initially assumed it was muscle soreness from sitting for too long. But when his symptoms continued to worsen, they brought him to the hospital.

Doctors diagnosed him with deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a condition in which a blood clot forms in a deep vein, most commonly in the leg. He was subsequently admitted for treatment.

His doctor said the teenager may have had an underlying tendency to develop blood clots, putting him at greater risk. However, prolonged inactivity was also believed to be a major contributing factor.

Medical experts noted that even people without an underlying clotting condition can develop DVT if they spend long periods sitting or lying down. The case serves as a reminder that increasingly sedentary lifestyles can have serious health consequences.

Doctors explained that venous thromboembolism (VTE), which includes DVT, is the third most common cardiovascular disease after heart attacks and strokes. While older adults are generally at higher risk, younger people are not immune—especially as long hours of scrolling, gaming, binge-watching and desk work become more common.

Extended periods of inactivity can slow blood circulation in the legs, increasing the likelihood of blood clots forming.

Doctors advise watching out for symptoms such as swelling in one leg, a calf or thigh that appears larger than usual, a heavy or aching sensation, pain when the area is pressed, and redness or warmth around the affected limb.

They also warned that chest pain, chest tightness, difficulty breathing, heart palpitations or coughing up blood could indicate that a clot has travelled to the lungs and caused a pulmonary embolism, a potentially life-threatening medical emergency that requires immediate treatment.

The takeaway? Whether you're doomscrolling, gaming, binge-watching or working at a desk, don't stay in the same position for hours on end.

Doctors recommend getting up to walk or stretch for about 10 minutes after every hour of sitting to keep your blood circulating and help reduce the risk of blood clots.

Photo: Eren Li/ Pexels