How Long Distance Air Travel Can Affect Your Health
Thrombophlebitis.
Sounds scary, doesn't it? Now try saying it five times fast. Still sounds creepy,
eh?
It is a rather serious condition, perhaps that's appropriate.
Thrombophlebitis,
more commonly known as deep vein thrombosis or sometimes referred to as "economy-class
syndrome", has been brought to the forefront of medical community after a
number of people have died from the condition after having flown on lengthy flights.
The first in a recent string of deaths related to this condition was 28-year-old Briton Emma Christoffersen,
a physically fit woman who collapsed after arriving in London from a 12,000-mile
flight from Australia in October 2000.
Every
year, DVT strikes about one in every 2,000 people in the general population, with
the risk greatest in those over 40, those with a personal or family history of
blood clots, those with cancer, blood diseases or heart conditions, and those
who had recent surgery on the hips or knees, according to the Venous Educational
Institute of America. Passengers on airplane flights longer than five hours, where
passengers remain seated and immobile, pose higher risks. The institute also says
it occurs more frequently in pregnant women, those who have recently delivered,
and those taking a contraceptive or hormone replacement therapy.
Recently,
the American Public Health Associationand the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention urged all healthcare providers to take a more active role
in preventing deep-vein thrombosis. Findings of a national survey showed
that 74 percent of Americans are largely unaware of the condition and more than
half (57 percent) of respondents could not name any common risk factors or pre-existing
conditions that could lead to its development.
What
is deep vein thrombosis?
Deep vein thrombosis occurs when a blood clot and inflammation develop in one or more
of your veins, typically in your legs, according to the Mayo Clinic.
There
is increasing evidence that immobilization in airline seats for long flights puts
people at risk for deep vein thrombosis. The condition occurs when a thrombus
(blood clot) forms in one of the large veins, usually in the lower limbs, leading
to either partially or completely blocked circulation. The condition may result
in health complications and death if not diagnosed and treated effectively. The
major risk associated with DVT is the development of a pulmonary embolism.
PE can occur when a fragment of a blood clot breaks loose from the wall of the
vein and migrates to the lungs, where it blocks a pulmonary artery or one of its
branches. In some circumstances, deep vein thrombosis may also contribute to other
serious medical problems such as heart attack and stroke.
What are the symptoms of DVT?
Deep
vein thrombosis may not cause symptoms until the blockage severely interrupts
blood flow. Then, you may experience symptoms, such as:
-
pain
-
sudden
swelling in the affected leg
-
enlargement
of the superficial veins
-
reddish-blue
discoloration
-
skin
that is warm to the touch
Contact a doctor immediately if you experience these symptoms.
As
mentioned above, if untreated, DVT may cause serious problems. A clot can grow
in size and block other veins. In addition, portions of the clot may break away
from the vein wall and travel through the veins into the lung, where it can lodge
in a pulmonary artery. This condition is known as pulmonary embolism, and the
traveling clot is called an embolus. Pulmonary embolism can be life threatening
if the embolus blocks the main pulmonary artery or if there are many clots. Pulmonary
embolism can be treated with drugs that dissolve the clot and restore normal blood
flow. You should get medical help immediately if you experience any symptoms of
pulmonary embolism:
What
can I do to prevent DVT?
1. During Travel:
-
Stand
up and walk around at least hourly
-
Exercise your calf muscles by going up on tiptoes several times while standing
-
Drink
adequate fluids — at least 1 liter per 5 hours of flight
-
Avoid alcohol as it increases the stickiness of platelets and promotes fluid loss
-
Avoid
crossing legs or prolonged awkward hip or knee positions whenever seated
-
Wear
loose fitting clothing when traveling
2. Stop Smoking
3. Lose Weight
4. Discuss with your doctor family
and personal history that might pre-dispose you to DVT
and increase your risk during travel.
-
Discuss
whether folic acid will help you prevent DVT.
-
Discuss
whether therapeutic compression stocking, and/or an anticoagulant would be helpful
to you in preventing DVT
5. The effectiveness of the use of aspirin as a preventive measure for deep vein thrombosis is controversial
6. Elevate your legs when possible.
(Sources: American Public Health Association, NASA Occupational Health Program) |
