You are here: Home > News >

Doctors in Bangalore come across at least two patients with deep vein thrombosis, also known as DVT, every day. A student recently died of DVT on a flight from Patna to Bangalore. DVT is common among those with bronchitis and cancer. Woman who are pregnant or are taking contraceptive pills are also vulnerable. Many notice the problem when they sit for long hours on a flight.

A student of M S Ramaiah College was flying down last week to collect his certificates from the college. As soon as he got down, he had an attack and died at the hospital. Doctors said he might have died of DVT.

What’s the cause?
Deep vein thrombosis is also called traveller’s thrombosis because doctors believe that sitting immobile for hours in a cramped space, which is often the case with travellers, can lead to the condition.
“It’s the stationary sitting position that is dangerous in many ways,” said Dr Krishna Kumar, a haematologist.
“Not moving around while in a sitting position is bad overall. It leads to clots and cramps.”
Groups at high risk
Those most susceptible to travellers’ thrombosis are senior citizens whose circulatory systems don’t work as well as young people’s. “The veins have pumps and valves and they lose their function, thus blood pools more easily,” Rao added.

Anyone who has previously experienced thrombosis, or has a family history of DVT, should be especially cautious on long flights. Researchers say other high-risk groups include people who have had recent surgery, alcoholics and those taking hormone replacement therapy.

But there have been cases of DVT even among those not in a high-risk group.

Lazy bones
Dr Vivek Javali, Wockhardt Hospital, said, “Any unusually long periods of inactivity, whether you’re in a plane, train, automobile, or even your office chair, can impede blood circulation. In turn, the pooled blood can cause a clot that can break off and travel to your heart, lungs, or brain. If the clot reaches your brain, it may cause a stroke; if it gets to your heart, it could lead to a heart attack. You might feel short of breath if the clot reaches your lungs.”

The condition is sometimes described as “economy-class syndrome” because the crowded conditions prevent people from stretching and moving around.

Don’t ignore pain
Dr Venkatasubba Rao, Mallya Hospital, said, “It is very dangerous to ignore pains developed during or after the flight. Passengers may not feel the symptoms right away, and it’s possible for a clot to dissolve without causing any problems. Nevertheless, experts say all travellers need to be aware of the potential dangers.”

Dr Rao recently treated a man who developed a clot after a 15-hour car ride.