Tall and Obese Males Have High Risk of Blood Clots

A new report published in the journal, Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, reveals that people who are tall and obese are at an increased risk of suffering from blood clots.

Recent studies have already linked obesity with a deadly form of clots known as venous thromboembolism (VTE), which occurs in legs and lungs. Now researchers at Norway's University of Tromso suggest that those who are tall are also at a risk of such clots, especially if they are obese.

The researchers observed over 26,700 Norwegians between 25 and 97 years of age over a period of 12 years during which 461 cases of VTE occurred. According to the report, the risk of blood clots increased by five times among men who were tall (over 5'2") and obese, 2.6 times among normal weight men over 5'11" tall.

The readings were similar among women with the risk increasing by 2.8 times among those who were taller than 5'2" though the risk did not increase among women who were of normal weight and over 5'6" tall.

"In tall people the blood must be pumped a longer distance by the calf-muscle pump, which may cause reduced flow in the legs and thereby raise the risk of clotting", lead researcher Sigrid Braekkan said.


Source: Medindia