Long Haul Flights Double Risk Of Blood Clots, Says WHO Report

clipped from www.medicalnewstoday.com Long Haul Flights Double Risk Of Blood Clots, Says WHO Report Cardiovascular / Cardiology News 29 Jun 2007 - 8:00 PDT The results from phase I of a group of studies by the World Health Organization (WHO) on the hazards of travel suggest that travellers who sit immobile for four hours or more, for example in a plane, train, bus or car, are doubling their risk of getting a blood clot (venous thromboembolism or VTE). The absolute risk of developing a blood clot is still quite small however: double a very small number and you still have a relatively small number. The absolute risk of developing VTE from being seated immobile for four hours or more is about 1 in 6,000 the study concluded. The VTE occurs when the blood stagnates in the veins after being seated for a long time. VTE usually leads to a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism. A deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is where a blood clot or thrombus occurs in a deep vein, usually in the lower part of the leg. 30 June 2007