Never sit like this on long flights or risk life-threatening condition
The sitting position you should avoid on a plane (Photo: Magnific)
Who is most at risk?
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) most commonly develops in the legs during journeys lasting more than four hours. Reduced blood circulation can cause a blood clot to form, which may break loose and travel to the lungs, leading to a potentially life-threatening pulmonary embolism.
While the overall risk remains low for healthy travelers, some people should be especially cautious. Higher-risk groups include:
- Pregnant women
- People with obesity
- Those who have recently undergone surgery
- Travelers with a family history or genetic predisposition to blood clots
- Women taking estrogen-based contraceptives
Warning signs of DVT include swelling, pain, warmth, and redness in one leg. Sudden shortness of breath, chest pain, or coughing up blood may indicate a pulmonary embolism and require immediate emergency medical attention.
How to reduce the risk during a flight
Doctors recommend getting up and walking around the cabin regularly whenever possible and wearing loose, comfortable clothing.
Dr. Syed Nadeem Abbas also advises performing simple exercises while seated. Flexing your legs, rotating your ankles, and avoiding sitting with your legs crossed can help keep blood flowing properly.
Passengers at higher risk may also benefit from wearing compression stockings, but only after consulting a healthcare professional. Doctors further recommend drinking plenty of water before and during the flight while avoiding alcohol, which can cause dehydration and make passengers less likely to move around during the journey.
This material is for informational purposes only and should not be used for medical diagnosis or self-treatment. Our goal is to provide readers with accurate information about symptoms, causes, and methods of detecting diseases. RBС-Ukraine is not responsible for any diagnoses that readers may make based on materials from the resource. We do not recommend self-treatment and advise consulting a doctor in case of any health concerns.
