How Flying Economy Class Could Kill You
CNN's Anderson Cooper had an over-extended chuckle this week when he tried to
report on actor Gerard Depardieu's desperate moment of public urination while sitting on a commercial airline. Beyond celebrity bladder problems, there is a serious danger to passengers on long airline flights."Economy class syndrome" is often used to describe deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which is when a blood clot (thrombosis) forms in the deep vein system of the lower leg, usually between the ankle and the upper calf.
This leg condition is serious, potentially fatal, and very difficult to discover just by looking at the leg. Symptoms often include muscle tension in the lower leg, a dull ache or sudden painful tear, or a cramp in the calf with swelling and elevated body temperature.
The problem is that symptoms rarely occur, since the blood clot may develop very rapidly, detach from the wall of the vein and move through the blood stream before anyone recognizes what's happening.
The blood clot may travel through the veins and lodge in the heart or in the lungs, resulting in sudden death. If the clot remains lodged in the legs, very serious damage may occur to the vein. Blood clots can cause tissue damage, skin lesions, ulceration, and possibly removal of the leg.
Former Vice President Dan Quayle is one of the more notable victims of deep vein thrombosis, he suffered an attack while on an 1994 airline flight and was fortunate to survive.
Here are some ways that you (and former Vice Presidents) can prevent deep vein thrombosis:
Try to stand and walk for five minutes every hour on the airline. If you cannot rise, flex your ankles up and down and curl your toes about twenty times every hour. Both activities will help stimulate leg blood flow.
Avoid Dehydration. The air in airplanes is very dry, and you may become dehydrated rapidly. Dehydration causes vessels to constrict and blood to thicken. This greatly increases your risk of forming clots. When flying, drink liquids frequently, 8 ounces of water every two hours, but avoid alcohol and coffee which contribute to dehydration.
Take an aspirin before departing on your flight and at safe intervals during your trip. Aspirin is a proven and safe blood thinner for most people. Ask your doctor first, though, you may have a medical condition that could be worsened with aspirin.
Wear graduated compression hosiery. These types of stockings and socks have been prescribed by physicians for over fifty years to treat venous maladies such as deep vein thrombosis, varicose veins, phlebitis, edema, etc. These stockings exert maximum compression at the ankle, with pressure decreasing up the length of the hosiery.This action forces surface veins' blood into the legs' deep vein system thereby correcting improper, weak blood flow. Graduated compression products are available in styles for men and women, and look like regular hosiery.
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