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Eight Hour Coding Session Causes DVT

NickFitz writes "The BBC reports that a UK programmer collapsed with Deep Vein Thrombosis after an eight hour programming session. The potentially life-threatening condition is more commonly seen in air passengers on long haul flights, but this should serve as a warning to many Slashdot readers (including me) that screen breaks aren't just for resting the eyes."

2 of 147 comments (clear)

  1. I have had deep vein thrombosis by Simon+Brooke · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Not funny, but not a great hassle either. I have to get my blood tested every three or four weeks, and get my warfarin dose adjusted. It's a nuisance when I fall off my bike, because I tend to bleed a lot.

    I'm supposed to get up and move about fairly regularly during the day, and mostly I remember to do that. And I do need to take regular exercise (which is why I cycle a lot). But it's something you can live with. I don't like having to take warfarin, but it isn't the end of the world.

    --
    I'm old enough to remember when discussions on Slashdot were well informed.
  2. Similar Situation by umbrellasd · · Score: 4, Interesting
    Do taichi in the NOC every hour or so. Takes up really little space. It's really low-key exercise, so people don't wig out and you don't have to work up a sweat. You can learn the shortform in a couple months and it takes about 5-7 minutes to go through it.

    After a few months, you won't need drugs and you won't have to worry about DVT. And you'll end up really good at it, :-). Anyway, I have a similar job and that was the most economical solution that I found.