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Confined
quarters raise another risk: Blood clots
NBC war reporter David
Bloom's recent death from a pulmonary embolism after spending days in a
cramped military vehicle supports new evidence that so-called "economy-class
syndrome" isn't restricted to the coach section of airplanes, and that
travelers may boost their risk of developing potentially deadly blood clots
by sitting for long periods in any confined quarters.
Deep-vein thrombosis (DVT),
the formation of blood clots in the legs that leads to reduced circulation
and possible fatal embolism, has for decades been documented among
passengers after long-haul flights. But research about whether those
passengers are at higher risk for blood clots has been both conflicting and
inconclusive.
In a first study of DVT
under actual travel conditions, presented Thursday at the annual conference
of the International Society of Travel Medicine, researchers from Austria's
University of Innsbruck found that lengthy trips both by plane and bus
triggered the process of blood clotting. In fact, the research suggests that
sitting in a cramped position for long periods of time is the major risk.
The Innsbruck study
followed 20 people on round-trip flights from Vienna to Washington, D.C.,
and another 20 who traveled by bus from Innsbruck to Rome and back two days
later. Three-quarters were considered to be at low risk for DVT, and none
developed it.
But blood-clotting levels
were similar between those who flew and took the bus, casting doubt on
speculation that airplane travel contributes to the risk of DVT because of
high altitude, low humidity and low oxygen pressure in the cabin.
Debate over how and why
travelers develop DVT continues. Medical experts are eager for results of a
World Health Organization study, expected to be released in two or three
years, on the connection between air travel and DVT.
In the meantime, travel
health experts advise long-distance fliers or those spending extended time
in other confined spaces to:
- Limit caffeine and alcohol before and
during the flight, and drink plenty of non-alcoholic fluids to avoid
dehydration, which can thicken the blood and increase the chance of a
blood clot.
- Move feet and legs and take several deep
breaths every hour.
Travelers with risk
factors for developing DVT — those over age 60, those with recent surgery or
injury or varicose veins, and women who are pregnant or recently gave birth,
among others — should wear compression knee socks to prevent swelling in
feet and lower legs.
SOURCE: By Laura Bly, USA
TODAY
Copyright 2003 USA TODAY, a division of
Gannett Co. Inc.
05/08/2003 - Updated 07:53 PM ET
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