Science and health

January 29, 2003 12:52 PM

Computer user suffers "eThrombosis"People who spend many hours every day sitting in front of a computer could be at risk of developing deep vein thrombosis - the potentially fatal blood clots. Go get a sandwich.
posted by semmi (12 comments total)

10 45minutes interweb
20 15minutes Dance Dance Revolution
30 GOTO 10

I'm safe.
posted by Pretty_Generic at 12:54 PM on January 29, 2003

Only chronic masturbation can keep you safe.
posted by y2karl at 12:59 PM on January 29, 2003

I have a solution.
posted by rotifer at 1:02 PM on January 29, 2003

*Hops on his segway and rolls to the fridge to get a sandwich*
posted by Stan Chin at 1:04 PM on January 29, 2003

This is because your computer doesn't have enough Africa in it.
posted by wobh at 1:05 PM on January 29, 2003

However, some scientists are likely to question the link [between prolonged computer usage and pulmonary embolisms]

They are right to do this. One incident does not indicate a widespread syndrome, nor does correllation indicate causality.
posted by moonbiter at 1:15 PM on January 29, 2003

Sounds like more of that Culture of Fear crap to me.

It happened to one guy out of millions! Be scared! Be scared!

You're probably just as likely to be struck by lightning. Twice. While wearing a pink tutu.
posted by gramcracker at 1:22 PM on January 29, 2003

Oh god I'm a dead man..
posted by ac at 1:27 PM on January 29, 2003

As a mac user, I am of course immune to this eThrombosis thing all you Windows people are so worried about. Nyah nyah.
posted by ook at 2:06 PM on January 29, 2003

A couple of years ago, the media dubbed deep vein thombosis "coach syndrome" because people on cramped seats in the coach cabin of airplanes would not move around enough to facilitate blood flow to their legs, causing a blood clot to form, &tc.

Anyway, this is nothing new, and I'm actually a little insulted that they keep trying to pass off this somewhat rare and certainly bizarre disease as the new lifestyle affliction. It's not like people need computers to sit on their asses all day long. TV has been providing that service for decades.
posted by mmcg at 2:20 PM on January 29, 2003

More on "coach" now "economy class" syndrome. (via Reuters.)

Reuters Health eLine article

(P.S. Check out the author's name...)
posted by Samizdata at 12:19 AM on January 30, 2003

the man would regularly work for 12 hours a day at his computer and often not stand up for hours.

I'm surprised his eyes still focused enough for him to find the doctor's office.

The real solution to this is exercise bicycles (or stair climbers) at the gym that would allow people to check their email.
posted by LeLiLo at 7:10 AM on January 30, 2003