"Aircraft legs" or "economy class syndrome", the official medical name is "deep venous thrombosis"(DVT) or "travel thrombosis”. It is the formation of a blood clot (thrombus) within a deep vein, most commonly the legs. Nonspecific signs may include pain, swelling, redness, warmness, and engorged superficial veins. Pulmonary embolism, a potentially life-threatening complication, is caused by the detachment (embolization) of a clot that travels to the lungs. Together, DVT and pulmonary embolism constitute a single disease process known as venous thromboembolism. Post-thrombotic syndrome, another complication, significantly contributes to the health-care cost of DVT.
In fact, such symptoms occur not only taking the plane, it can also be occurring in daily life, such as a long time by train, bus, bus, etc., it may also cause deep DVT, so recently it was advocated to "economy class syndrome" renamed for "travel thrombosis". Even if you do take a ride in front of your computer or look at three movies continuously and keep the same posture for a long time and lack of activity, there is a risk of "economy class syndrome" as well.
Attention and prevention as below：
- When taking the plane, please try to wear loose pant and do not wear too tight shoes so that the body easy to stretch.
- Every two hours to get up and leave the seat to move about, pull the ribs to do stretching exercises, you have to remember to change the posture in the seat to avoid a fixed sitting or the body becomes stiff.
- Drink more water, the blood flow will be smooth when the body's water content is enough.
- Do not drink too much alcoholic beverages, alcohol diuretic effect likely to cause dehydration, dehydration in the state, the blood viscosity will be relatively high, the flow is not easy and the possibility of thrombosis will increase.
- Take deep breath so that the blood has enough oxygen.
The conclusion is that no matter what activities are being engaged, we must remember to keep moving at any time to keep the blood circulation smooth.
Source: General News