The ‘”Sardine Syndrome” – Pul Embolism
30 May 2004
I know how sardines feel when I’m crammed into an economy seat during an overseas flight. I’m also aware it can cause a lethal blood clot. So if my number is up and "The Sardine Syndrome" lands me at the Pearly Gate, should I blame my death on the airline which caused a deep vein thrombosis (DVT)? And how can you prevent DVT?
Fifty-six people, some of them now dead, have taken legal action against airlines. The charge claims they failed to inform passengers, or their relatives, about the risk of DVT in flight.
Flying, like many other things in life, carries a risk. For instance, it’s reported that every month one death occurs at London’s Heathrow airport due to DVT. These deaths normally occur in elderly flyers. But not always.
In October 2,000, one fatality at Heathrow made headlines around the world. The victim? A 28 year old woman, seated in economy, died after disembarking from a 20 hour, 12,000 mile flight. But can you lambaste the airlines for it?
After all, a report from Johns Hopkins University claims that DVT occurs in 2 out of every 1000 people. This accounts for 800,000 hospital admissions annually and is a leading cause of death.
But not all 800,000 people were flying. Some were sitting at computers for long hours. Others dropped dead following prolonged car rides. So if you’re going to sue the airlines why not computer and automobile makers? Besides some people develop DVT for no apparent reason.
So why do clots form? During waking hours our blood constantly fights Newton’s downward pull of gravity. Fortunately, the normal movement of leg muscles pressing on veins keeps blood flowing. But after sitting inactive for hours blood flow becomes sluggish and set the stage for a potentially fatal clot.
Should a clot develop in the leg it will most likely remain in that location and gradually dissolve. Patients may complain of pain, swelling of the calf and the skin may be warm, or dusky in colour.
50 percent of those who develop a blood clot in the leg are not even aware of its presence. But one in four clots breaks free and travels to the lungs where it becomes lodged in an artery. This is called a pulmonary embolism which cuts off the lung’s blood supply and death may result.
So how can we all avoid DVT? Ships and humans have one thing in common. Tie them up and they develop rust. The secret is to keep moving. A little "fidgeting" may annoy your seatmate, but it can save your life.
Simple lifestyle measures that maintain a good cardiovascular system also help circumvent DVT. It’s the old story of not gaining weight, tossing away cigarettes and getting regular exercise.
If possible book your flight early and request a roomy seat such as behind the bulkhead. During flight get up and move around as much as possible. Or at least stretch your legs and wiggle your toes.
Don’t wear restrictive clothing. And if there’s a history of circulatory problems ask your doctor about the use of compression stockings. Unlike tight clothing full-length compression stockings help to improve circulation.
It’s vital to keep the body well-oiled. This means drinking adequate amounts of fluids during long flights. Often we’re told not to consume alcohol. I agree that too much is not prudent. But I usually have a drink before the meal and enjoy a glass of wine with it. Alcohol in moderation is relaxing and also oils the blood platelets making them less likely to form a clot.
I also take natural vitamin E. You can tell it’s natural by the "d" in front of alpha tocopheral. Vitamin E increases the oxygen-carrying capacity of blood and also makes it less likely to clot.
An enteric coated Aspirin 81 mg (milligrams) also helps to fight clotting. In fact, studies show that taking an 81 mg Aspirin each day for those over 50 year is also a prudent move to prevent heart attack even if you’re not flying. But always check with your doctor to make sure there’s no contraindication for taking Aspirin.
If after all these precautions I end up at the Pearly Gate, surely it’s my problem, not the airlines’.
