Can Sleeping in a Recliner cause Blood Clots?

A recliner is the best invention one can claim, because of the comfort it offers after a long day. The comfortably cushioned sofa, that you can recline at many positions, gives an unmatchable relaxing time, especially to those who experience severe back pains.

However, along with infinite benefits of a recliner there are some disadvantages of recliners as well. So, many of Homeoure readers ask, can sleeping in a recliner cause blood clots? Let’s see in the next section how true that statement is.

Can Sleeping in a Recliner Cause Blood Clots?

can sleeping in a recliner cause blood clots

The question itself is scary because blood clotting in any part of the body is no joke. But if the recliner causes such a big issue why don’t they put a ban on manufacturing it? The answer is, that it isn’t the recliner that causes blood clotting in the body, it actually is the wrong sitting position that causes the issue.

Blood clotting due to sleeping is also known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and it actually occurs when you sleep in one single position for many hours. It mostly happens to deep sleepers, however, it can also happen when you sleep in a recliner. Sleeping in a recliner is different than sleeping in a bed because it kind of restricts your motion as it isn’t essentially made for sleeping for long hours.

You can easily and freely toss and turn in your bed, however, you cannot easily do that in a recliner due to its design. The truth is, when you sleep in one position for a long time, the blood flow to certain parts of your body, especially your legs get restricted.

When this happens it increases the chances of blood clots in your legs. However, you can choose a right chair for leg circulation for best sleeping position to prevent blood clots.

The Side Effects of Sleeping in a Recliner

Can Sleeping in a Recliner cause Blood Clots
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You should never sleep in the recliner for a longer period of time, even if you do, make sure you recline the back of the chair to its full limit and make sure you have lifted the footrest. Moreover, avoid sleeping on the recliner for too long as it might cause a heavy leg condition which may lead to blood clotting in your legs.

You may also want to read about recliners effects on leg circulation

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a recliner bad for your health?

No, a recliner isn’t bad for your health in general, in fact, it can be very relaxing to stretch your back on it. It is actually the wrong sleeping position that can cause various health issues like heavy legs and blood clotting.

Can a recliner cause blood clotting in your body?

Yes, sometimes people sleep on it for too long in the wrong position which restricts the blood flow to certain parts of the body. This causes a heavy leg condition which means that blood isn’t flowing to your legs or other parts of the body. This condition can be dangerous in the long run.

How to use the recliner properly?

To prevent health issues like heavy legs you should not stay sleeping in the recliner for long hours. Keep the back reclined for a relaxing time and lift the footrest up so that your legs are aligned with your upper body. Moreover, try to toss and turn a bit after some time for a steady and regular blood flow in the body.

Final Thoughts about Blood Clotting due to Sleeping in a Recliner

The statement that recliners cause blood clotting in the body isn’t entirely true. It is the wrong sleeping position in the recliner that can lead to such conditions. Sleeping in a recliner for too long in one position may lead to several health conditions. Therefore, it is necessary to sleep in a proper position as mentioned above to prevent health conditions.


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