The Worst Place to Sit on a Plane
Forget the window seat next time you’re booking a flight longer than
six hours. According to new research, enjoying window views from 30,000
feet ups your odds of suffering from deep venous thromboses (DVTs)—or
blood clots—than being in an aisle seat. Some studies have suggested it
can increase risk two-fold.
(Read more: What Is Deep Vein Thrombosis?)
What gives? It’s not the physical location of the seat that’s
putting you in danger—it’s that you’re less likely to get up when
you’re plopped inside two strangers. No one wants to be that guy who goes to the bathroom five times. But maybe he’s on to something.
“When you sit still for long periods of time, gravity causes your
blood to pool in your legs, making it easier for clots to form. When
you walk around, each step causes contractions in your calf returning
blood to the heart,” says Susan Kahn, M.D., at Lady Davis Institute in
Montreal, and author of the new DVT guidelines.
DVTs are rare—occurring in about one of every 5,000 airline
passengers. But if you’re on a cross-country haul, make it a point to
get up every hour or two. While seated, get your calf muscles
contracting—flex and extend your ankles to help blood flow, Kahn says.
Travel a lot? Try compression socks, says Kahn. The pressure these
socks put on your ankles and lower legs helps press blood upward. They
are especially useful if you’re at a higher risk for DVTs (overweight,
past blood clot, or recent surgery). You can get them anywhere from Walgreens to activewear companies like 2XU. Check out the other benefits of compression gear.
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