Watching TV for too long can cause blood clots.

Watching TV for too long can almost double the risk of blood clots even in people who exercise, according to the Daily Mail.

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Prolonged TV viewing has been linked to heart disease, but this is the first study to look at a blood clot in the legs, arms, pelvis and lungs called venous thromboembolism (VTE).

“Watching TV itself is not bad, but we tend to snack and sit still for long periods of time while watching TV,” said Mary Cushman of the University of Vermont (USA).

She and colleagues looked at 15,158 subjects aged 45 to 64.

The risk of VTE was 1.7 times higher in people who said they watched television “very often” compared with those who “never or rarely” watched television.

People who met recommended guidelines for physical activity and reported watching TV “very often” had a 1.8 times higher risk than those who “never or rarely” watched TV.

To reduce the risk of VTE, in addition to avoiding watching TV for too long, people should maintain a healthy weight and be physically active, according to Ms. Cushman.

Although VTE is more common in people over 60, it can occur at any age.

According to TNO