Houston (US): Reduced air pressure and low oxygen levels during airplane flights are not responsible for the potentially deadly blood clots or deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) in the legs, a British study has said.
Researchers simulating conditions of reduced cabin pressure and oxygen levels, as encountered during an eight-hour flight found no increase in the blood activation system among healthy individuals, a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association said.
However, the Leicester and Aberdeen University experts conducting the study felt that sitting still for long hours could be one reason for the clots.
Sitting still for a long duration on any mode of transport could lead to deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) in the legs, which can prove fatal if it travels to the lungs, they said.
The researchers have advised travellers to stretch their legs, extend and flex the knees and ankles, and stand and walk whenever possible during flights.
DVT has been previously associated with long-haul air travel, but it has been unclear whether this is due to the effects of sitting for a long time, or whether there is a relationship with some other specific factor in the airplane environment.
One hypothesis has been that hypoxia (reduced oxygen in the blood), which is associated with decreased cabin pressure at high altitude, produces changes in blood that increases the risk of blood clots.
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