| Long Sittings can be Fatal for Travelers |
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Researchers in Scotland have ruled out reduced cabin pressure on long-haul flights as a reason of the potentially disastrous condition deep vein thrombosis (DVT). In other words, reduced cabin pressure and low oxygen during long airplane flights does not appear to increase the risk of possibly mortal blood clots in healthy passengers, the study suggests.
The study revealed that in healthy people the risk comes simply as a result of sitting for long periods without moving their legs, causing blood to pool in the lower extremities, where it becomes thicker, slower to circulate and more apt to clot.
Dr. William Toff-the lead author and a senior lecturer in cardiology at the Britain’s University of Leicester said, "The most important factor is probably, and generally thought to be, the effect of prolonged sitting with relatively little mobility," he added "That really is the factor that is common to air travel and travel by road and travel by rail, all of which long journeys are associated with an increased risk of forming a blood clot."
DVT occurs when a blood clot forms in a leg vein. While there may be no symptoms, the ankle or leg may become swollen and painful. A thrombosis becomes life-threatening when the clot moves up the leg vein into the heart and from there into a lung.
That condition is known as a pulmonary embolism, which can be deadly if the clot blocks blood flow. Symptoms may include shortness of breath and chest pain.
More than 70 people, who participated voluntarily in the study, spent eight hours seated in a hypobaric chamber that simulated the environment of an airplane at about 2,400 metres (8,000 feet).
The researchers discovered no increase in the activation of the blood-clotting system among healthy individuals.
The same volunteers spent another eight-hour period about a week later in a chamber with normal air pressure and oxygen levels. More than half of the participants were healthy people under age 40 without known risk factors for thrombosis. The study also included 12 female participants on oral contraceptives (which increases the risk of blood clots) and 12 participants 50 years and older. (Age is also a risk factor.)
Blood samples were taken from participants immediately before and after these periods to measure various markers of blood clotting; the blood test results from the two different environments were then compared.
Noting that the incidence of deep vein thrombosis is an estimated one in every 2,000 flights, Dr. Toff said "Essentially, we found no difference between the low pressure and the normal pressure exposures."
Toff said travelers on long journeys should make sure they move their legs at regular intervals to increase blood flow, at least once an hour.
He suggests, "You should take steps to minimize your risk (of clots) by exercising your leg muscles, periodically contracting your calf muscles, extending and flexing at the ankle and knee, and getting up to walk around whenever conveniently possible."
The study was conducted by Professor Mike Greaves, head of Aberdeen University’s school of medicine and chair in haemotology, and Dr William Toff, from Leicester University’s department of cardiovascular sciences.
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