Sitting cross-legged does not cause blood clots, but it is important to avoid habits that do

Doctors point out that the pressure created when you can legs is only temporary. The blood flow changes for a short period of time, but with a change of position the venous system returns to normal operation. There is no evidence in the medical reports that sitting cross-legged for a long time causes irreversible damage to the veins or permanent structural changes.

However, that doesn’t mean the pose is completely unaffected. Medical reports indicate that sitting cross-legged can cause a temporary increase in blood pressure. The explanation for this is physiological, compression of blood vessels in the legs pushes blood back towards the heart and raises the pressure momentarily. For healthy people, this is a clinically insignificant change, but for those suffering from high blood pressure, this is a detail that you should be aware of when taking blood pressure measurements.

The doctors emphasize that the main problem is not the position itself, but the prolonged sitting. Whether the legs are crossed or not, immobility for hours damages blood circulation, contributes to back pain and muscle stiffness. In this context, the health recommendation is not to avoid burning your feet, but to get up, walk and move your body every half hour to an hour.

The conclusion emerging from the medical reports is clear. Sitting cross-legged does not destroy the legs and does not cause permanent varicose veins. It may cause temporary changes in blood pressure or a feeling of circumcision, but is not a significant risk factor in healthy people.

Bottom line, there’s no need to stress out of the habit. Those who are comfortable sitting cross-legged can continue to do so, as long as they remember to get up, move and change positions during the day. Venous health depends on movement, not the angle at which the legs are placed.