Pulmonary Embolism in persons making long distance air travel

‘Pulmonary Embolism’ is a lethal condition caused due a block in the venous artery by a blood clot. It is not a primary disease of the lung. It arises from an underlying venous thrombosis. Under certain conditions the micro thrombi escape from normal clot formation, break loose and pass into lung vessels causing a block in the lung blood vessels producing severe distress and death of the individual.

There are several causes of the pulmonary embolism. The salient among them are hereditary factors like deficiency of antithrombin III, protein S and C, abnormalities in clot formation. Recent fractures, burns, and obesity favors pulmonary embolism. Beside there is high risk in old age and in certain diseases like AIDS favors the formation of pulmonary embolism.

Several cases of pulmonary embolism have been recorded in long distance plane travel people particularly in persons sitting in uncomfortable positions without sufficient space to stretch the legs. A clot that had formed in the leg veins during the flight moved into the lungs upon standing and block of the lung blood vessels. This interferes in the lung circulation resulting in breathlessness and chest pain producing sudden death. Keeping legs in a cramped condition for long time without any exercise favors clot formation in the leg veins. To prevent this lethal condition frequent stretching, exercise like walking or standing, massaging the calf muscles on the back minimize the risk of clot formation.

People having overweight, pregnant women and persons having varicose veins are at greater risk. These people should consult their physicians before undertaking long distance air travel. Anti coagulant drugs are generally be given to prevent clot formation in high risk individuals.

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