 has been dubbed 'economy class syndrome' Credit: Getty Well with this comes a risk of developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) - a blood clot in a vein that can be fatal. While usually found in the leg, it can move to the lungs and cause a life-threatening pulmonary embolism , which can kill very quickly. It is sometimes dubbed "economy class syndrome" as some research has shown it to be more common in those towards the back of the plane - though it can happen anywhere. It's due to the sitting posture, tight seating arrangements and prolonged immobility which can compress the blood vessels and lead to blood pooling, scientists say. One study in 2021 found air travel longer than eight hours increased someone's risk of developing DVT . Another, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, showed DVT was significantly more prevalent in passengers on long-haul flights (more than six hours) than in the general population. A third, in Brazil , blamed it on immobilisation, decreases in air pressure and low humidity. Body mass index (BMI), age, surgical history, oral contraceptives , hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and cancer also made people more predisposed. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says: "More than 300 million people travel on long-distance flights (generally more than four hours) each year. "Blood clots, also called deep vein thrombosis (DVT), can be a serious risk for some long-distance travellers. "They can form in the deep veins of your legs during travel because you are sitting still in a confined space for long periods of time. "The longer you are immobile, the greater your risk." Around one in 1,000 people in the UK will develop DVT every year, according to the NHS . It){kind=link}
CROWDED airports, lengthy check-in queues, narrow seats and long-haul travel delays all bring extended periods of sitting and standing still.
This is only worsened when travelling in economy class, where conditions tend to be pretty cramped.
Well with this comes a risk of developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) – a blood clot in a vein that can be fatal.
While usually found in the leg, it can move to the lungs and cause a life-threatening pulmonary embolism, which can kill very quickly.
It is sometimes dubbed “economy class syndrome” as some research has shown it to be more common in those towards the back of the plane – though it can happen anywhere.