When flying, it is recommended that you remain seated and strapped in throughout the flight. However, on long-haul flights, you’ll often see advice in the in-flight magazine or in-flight entertainment programs about gestures to be performed even when seated… And you’ve probably heard people say that you should stand up or walk around regularly. We tell you why.
The risk of thrombosis on planes
Venous thrombosis (or phlebitis) is the formation of a blood clot in a vein, most often in the lower limbs. In the best-case scenario, the clot can disappear on its own, but it can also travel up to the lung, causing a pulmonary embolism that can engage the passenger’s vital prognosis.
The cause of clot formation is not at all specific to air transport: it’s the result of prolonged sitting, where blood is concentrated in the lower limbs (it’s walking and the activation of the lower muscles that stimulates blood flow back to the heart).
This applies equally to sedentary workers who spend hours sitting in the office, only to return to the couch as soon as they get home, and even more to situations where sitting is a necessity, such as travelling by train, car or plane.
Air travel: an aggravating factor
But air transport has its own aggravating factors. The low pressure due to altitude (despite cabin pressurization, the pressure is the same as if you were at 2400m altitude) reduces the concentration of oxygen in the blood, and dehydration due to low cabin humidity thickens the blood, facilitating the formation of clots.
How can you tell if a clot is developing?
If you experience pain, tenderness, swelling, heat and/or redness in your legs during a flight, this may be a sign of deep vein thrombosis or a blood clot.
Another thing to watch out for is the appearance of shortness of breath. This may be a sign that a clot has formed in your lungs or has moved there. In this case, inform the flight crew as soon as possible.
How to avoid blood clots when flying?
Buvez beaucoup. Preferably water and fruit juices. Alcohol and even sodas are not recommended.
Then wear appropriate outfits. Avoid tight-fitting clothing, especially around the lower limbs, which will compress your legs and cause them to swell. The same goes for shoes, which are best worn comfortably, or even untied or removed on long-haul flights. Those at risk or wishing to take maximum precautions should wear compression stockings or socks.
Last but not least, don’t stand still. On a long-haul flight, stand up and walk regularly from one end of the cabin to the other. Ideally, 5 minutes every two hours. Every hour is even better, but more complicated.
You can also do exercises. Sometimes the airline magazine in the pocket in front of you contains a few. Some airlines even broadcast them as one of the programs available on the in-flight entertainment system. If not, here are a few.
Bottom line?
There are no statistics on the subject, but we agree that the risk of thrombosis due to travel or the accumulation of flights is 1%, even if most of the time it will not be serious and the passenger will not even realize it. However, the risk is 4 times greater in the air than on the ground.
So you know what you have to do!
Image : airline passengern by aleks333 via Shutterstock
