I had never heard of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE) until the death of NBC news correspondent David Bloom. The newsman died of the condition while he was covering the war in Iraq four years ago. Now the World Health Organization has issued a warning to all travelers regarding long flights and DVT.
The U.N. agency is recommending that passengers on flights that exceed four hours exercise their legs and avoid taking sleeping pills to reduce the risk of potentially fatal blood clots. Doctors say deep vein thrombosis, which occurs when a blood clot in the extremities breaks away and travels to the lungs, can be treated if detected in time. The risk increases if people are immobile for long periods in cramped conditions. It is also important to note that some people are predisposed to the condition for genetic or lifestyle reasons.
The warning from WHO comes as a result of research done after a 28-year-old British woman died in 2000 from a pulmonary embolism while on a long flight originating in Australia. WHO said studies showed the risk of developing blood clots during any form of travel longer than four hours was 1 in 6,000 among the general population. In the case of flying, that would translate into one case for every 15 fully booked jumbo jets.
Health experts say the risks of developing DVT varies depending on a person’s condition, but adds that the most important factor was immobility. So if you are planning to be on a plane for an extended amount of time, here’s what you need to know:
Get up every 30-60 minutes and take a short walk or do exercises to contract the calf muscles, this has shown to greatly reduce the risk of blood clots, doctor say.
Also resist taking sedatives and don’t drink large amounts of alcohol while on long flights because if you fall asleep you’re more likely to be immobile for long periods of time.
Other factors can affect your chances of developing blood clots, including obesity, genetic conditions, age, use of oral contraceptives, and being shorter than 5-foot-4 or taller than 6-foot-4. (The theory is that short people are less mobile because their feet dangle and taller people because they are more cramped.)
Finally, WHO said the risk of developing blood clots is the same whether you travel long distances by train, car or plane, though studies show high-risk groups were more likely to develop clots on flights. Symptoms of blood clots include pain or cramps in the calves, and swelling of the leg.
Related Articles:
Advice for the Pregnant Traveler
Traveling with a Medical Condition