Economy class syndrome is a condition also known as travel related Deep vein thrombosis, which forms as a result of blood clots in the veins (blood vessels that take blood to the heart back from other parts of the body). These clots are essentially blockages which prevent blood from flowing through the blood vessels.
The veins affected are usually in the legs. As a result, a sufferer of economy class syndrome can experience pain, aching, discolouration or swelling in the affected leg. This can also be life threatening if the clot were to move to blood vessels supplying the heart or lungs. If this were to become the case, the sufferer can experience shortness of breath, difficulty breathing or chest pain.
Risk Factors
Risk factors for economy class syndrome include being obese which is a situation where people are very overweight. Obese people have a BMI (Body Mass Index) of 30 or more. In order to calculate your BMI, you must divide your weight in kilograms by your height in metres squared. There is also a BMI calculator on the NHS website. Obesity reduces the ability of blood to flow around the body and is therefore more likely to stagnate and form clots in areas further away from the heart. Legs can be particularly affected as the body has to effectively work against gravity for blood to flow through the veins and return to the heart.
Certain treatments such as Hormone Replacement Therapy and oral contraceptives can also increase risk. In addition, there are also blood clotting disorders such as thrombophilia which can be inherited or acquired later in life, as well as predominantly inherited conditions which cause an imbalance in clotting factors in the blood such as protein C, protein S or antithrombin deficiencies which can increase risk. Longer flight times also put people at greater risk of economy class syndrome. Passengers flying for over 8 hours have a 0.5% chance of developing the condition.
Preventative Strategies
Flight cabins can be cramped places. After sitting for long periods blood can pool up in the veins making it more likely for clots to form. This means that leg exercises on the flight can increase the flow of blood around the body which reduces the occurrence of economy class syndrome. Compression stockings can also help in increasing blood flow through the veins in the legs.
In addition, the consumption of alcohol and tea and coffee can also increase the likelihood of economy class syndrome as they can cause dehydration (loss of fluids from the body) which makes blood thicker thereby increasing the risk of blood clots forming.
Areas For Airlines to Consider
Airlines appear to be aware of economy class syndrome and do provide general advice to customers about it. Customers are encouraged to keep well hydrated and to exercise their legs on flights. Airlines also give advice on seat selection encouraging the use of aisle seats to allow for easier movement during the flight. They also advise to store hand luggage in overhead cabins rather than under the seat to maximise legroom.
There are however ways airlines could potentially improve in this area. As discussed, there are risk factors which increase the chance of developing economy class syndrome. Perhaps if airlines were to identify those at risk and offer them aisle seats or other seats such as those at the front of the cabin which may offer more legroom, cases of travel related Deep vein thrombosis would decrease. Airlines could achieve this by asking relevant questions at the time of booking so risk factors could be taken into account with seating arrangements. In addition, cabin crew would also be aware of passengers’ conditions should they need assistance.
As one can see therefore, economy class syndrome is a condition that the aviation industry is aware of and does provide passengers with information about. However, there is the potential of providing more help with this condition to minimise the risk of it developing. We will have to wait to see how this progresses.
So on the whole airlines are making people aware of economy class syndrome but more can be done to prevent it. What are your views on economy class syndrome and what more could airlines do to minimise its occurrence? Share your answers in the comments below.
