Avoid window seats to cut risk for in-flight blood clots

Kelly Milliken- Current Event posting #1 - Health

Topic: Avoiding getting blood clots, by moving away from window seats in airplanes.

Title of Article: Avoid window seats to cut risk for in-flight blood clots

Author: Alan Mozes

Publication Name: Kait8

Date of Publication: Feb 07, 2012

Length of Article: Approx. 700 words

This article discusses the problem of DVT, or deep venous thrombosis. This is a type of very serious blood clots that many people get in their legs, frequently called "economy class syndrome". It was always called this, because people who sat in economy class for long plane rides would frequently get it, but leading physicians are now realizing that it might not be the class you sit in that affects your legs, but where you sit in the class. Members of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) are recommending that people who are prone to DVT during travel do not sit at window seats. This is due to the fact that, if you are in an aisle seat, you are prone to move around more. One has easier access to stretching one's legs out during a long plane ride if they are in an aisle seat, whereas if one is sitting at a window, they are much less likely to get up frequently. It is highly recommended that, if you are on an airplane ride for 6 or more hours, you should walk around once in a while to stretch out your calf muscles. This is especially true if you are elderly, pregnant, take supplementary estrogen, or have recently had surgery, because these people will be more prone to DVT. DVT is an extremely dangerous syndrome, because not only are the clots dangerous for the limbs where they are created, but they can also spread to the lungs creating lethal pulmonary embolisms. In conclusion, DVT is a potential problem for long plane rides no matter what class you are in, as well as long car rides.