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'Simple precautions' stop blood clots on planes: panel



 
 
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Old September 15th, 2004, 03:09 AM
Roman Bystrianyk
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Default '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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