Tall? You may be at risk

[SamIam]

Maybe you thought that tall guys get all the breaks. Many women prefer tall men, and they can always reach that thing-a-ma-jig at the top back of the closet. Well take heart all you shorties out there. Tall men have higher risk of clots.

Being immobilized after surgery or sitting for long periods on flights can increase the risk of developing dangerous blood clots, as can certain lifestyle-related factors, such as smoking and being obese. Now, studies have found a correlation between height and clot risk, but the association has only been observed in men. Tall men, those measuring six feet (181 centimeters) or taller, appear to be at greater risk of developing venous thromboembolisms than those who are shorter. It is unclear why this is the case, but some speculate that venous stasis, a condition in which the normal flow of blood through a vein is slowed or halted, could increase the potential for clotting.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6464JD20100507