Health Features

Economy Class Syndrome 

What do you know about “economy class syndrome,” the well-documented phenomenon that occurs as a result of sitting for long periods of time on an international flight? but how common is it and what is being done to prevent it from happening to others?

Deep-vein thrombosis, or the formation of a blood clot, has been dubbed “economy class syndrome” because it results from long hours of minimal movement — an all-too-familiar experience for airline passengers jammed into the increasingly cramped quarters in the back of the plane.
While no formal statistics are kept, anecdotal evidence suggests that the condition is rare and fatalities even rarer, says Dr. Russell Rayman, executive director of the Aerospace Medical Association. Aviation medical experts estimate there are only several hundred cases a year on millions of trips passengers fly.
Which is why most passengers don’t know about the simple steps they can take to reduce their chances of suffering from blood clots and their potentially fatal complications.

"Economy class syndrome” becomes dangerous when a blood clot in a deep vein breaks free and the resulting embolus travels to a pulmonary artery, blocking blood flow in the lungs.

Despite its moniker, economy class syndrome is not confined to the back of the plane.

Air travel is not the only — or even primary — time the blood clots can develop. They form during long periods of inactivity, which slow the blood flow. The condition also can develop, for instance, as a result of prolonged immobility due to surgery or a limb set in a cast.

Usually the clots form in veins in the legs and lower abdomen, but they can develop in other parts of the body as well. The symptoms vary, from swelling to cramping. Often, they’re mistaken for something else. Sometimes passengers who develop clots don’t seek treatment for days after the flight — which is one reason the frequency is difficult to track.

Although anyone can develop blood clots, certain people are more vulnerable, including pregnant women, people who are overweight, smokers and those with coronary artery diseases and certain blood conditions. Those with higher risks should consult their physicians before flying.

Generally, the clots are absorbed into the bloodstream. If they aren’t, physicians can treat them with drugs that dissolve the clots and prevent others from forming and, occasionally, surgery. If a clot reaches the lung, emergency medical assistance is required.

Preventative Measures

• I recommend the following precautions for all passengers:

• Get up and walk about at least once an hour (a challenge, given the food carts). 

• While seated, flex your ankles, from your sitting position flex and extend your legs as much as the space allows to stimulate blood circulation as well as pressing your

• Remain hydrated, why people get drunk when flying baffles me.  Start your holiday when you get to your destination. 

• Consider wearing support stockings or elastic wraps to keep blood from settling in the veins in your legs.

• Don’t take aspirin if it is not prescribed to you.  It does thin your blood but it could be dangerous.