Q. Why don't people get deep vein thrombosis from lying down overnight?
Doctor Answer is medically reviewed by SecondMedic medical review team.
Deep vein thrombosis, also known as DVT, is a potentially dangerous condition in which a blood clot forms in the deep veins of your body. A common misconception is that lying down overnight increases your risk of developing DVT due to the lack of movement while sleeping. However, this isn't necessarily true.
The truth is that movement helps reduce the risk of developing DVT, but some bodily functions like respiration and digestion still occur when you’re lying down and can help keep your blood flowing normally. Additionally, during sleep our bodies produce anticoagulants which help prevent clots from forming by making it harder for them to stick together. These naturally occurring chemicals form an important part in maintaining healthy circulation throughout our bodies regardless of whether we are standing or lying down for long periods of time.
In addition to this natural protection against DVT, there are other steps you can take to reduce your risk even further such as remaining active throughout the day (if possible), being aware of any family history with blood clots or related conditions and avoiding prolonged sitting/lying still on long haul flights/journeys if able-bodied do so – ideally try and walk around every few hours during these trips! All these steps combined create a effective strategy towards reducing DVT incidents so don’t be afraid - make sure you get plenty restful nights sleep!
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