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'Simple precautions' stop blood clots on planes: panel
http://www.healthsentinel.com/news.p...st_item&id=238
ANDRÉ PICARD, "'Simple precautions' stop blood clots on planes: panel", Globe and Mail, September 14, 2004, Link: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servl...lScienceandHea The next time you're going on a long airplane fight make sure you wear baggy cloths. A panel of medical experts has concluded that everyone, even generally fit people, should take some precautions against getting so-called economy-class syndrome -- potentially fatal blood clots, which can develop from being in a cramped space for too long. The new recommendations, for flights over six hours in duration, are decidedly low-tech, stressing common sense measures such as stretching and drinking adequate water to stave off travellers' thrombosis -- the medical term for the blood clots. But the blue-ribbon panel that assembled the guidelines said medication should be taken by travellers at high risk, particularly those who have suffered blood clots previously. "This isn't a major public health issue but it's something that physicians get a lot of questions about," said Jack Hirsh, professor emeritus of medicine and director of the Henderson Research Centre at McMaster University in Hamilton. "The new guidelines should help them provide patients with the best and most practical information." The recommendations, published in today's edition of the medical journal Chest, include: Avoid constrictive clothing around the lower extremities and waist, avoid dehydration, and engage in frequent calf muscle stretching. Patients at risk of venous thromboembolism, a potentially fatal blockage in the lung, should wear compression stockings or take a prescription for an anticoagulant medication such as low-molecular-weight heparin or fondaparinux prior to departure. Taking Aspirin is not recommended because it doesn't reduce the risk significantly. Dr. Hirsh, chair of the panel, said while there is much media attention paid economy-class syndrome, the risk of long-distance flights needs to be kept in perspective. The risk of blood clots is related principally to age. At age 15, the risk is about one in 20,000 annually and that rises to about one in 100 by age 80. Other risk factors include having had a previous blood clot, being obese, taking oral contraceptives and a number of other medications. Dr. Hirsh said that baseline risk increases two to three times if a person remains immobile for a long period of time during a long-haul flight, and that the risk can be virtually eliminated with very simple measures. "We should be taking some simple precautions but we shouldn't be getting too worked up about it," he said. Warren Everson, vice-president of policy for the Air Transportation Association of Canada, shared that viewpoint. For that reason, he said the guidelines were welcome. "The airlines all have slightly different approaches to this but their basic message is that the comfort and health of passengers is best protected if they drink a lot of water and get out of their seat from time to time," he said. Mr. Everson said patients with specific medical conditions should always talk to their airline before travelling, and consult with their own physicians for conditions such as those that may increase the risk of blood clots. He noted that the issue, which got a lot of media attention a couple of years back, has fallen out of view and he credited passengers for making common sense adjustments themselves. |
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