Economy Class Stroke Syndrome
Researchers at UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School (NJMS) report a possible link between a common physical defect in the heart and potentially deadly stroke that could occur during long airplane flights. The research team, led by Patrick Pullicino, PhD, MD, chair of the Department of Neurosciences at the school, reported the connection, called "economy class stroke syndrome," in three healthy, young travelers who suffered ischemic strokes during or shortly after long air trips.
"What's remarkable is that all three patients were under 50 years of age and all were healthy, non-obese, non-smokers with no vascular risk factors and therefore not expected to be at risk for stroke," Pullicino says. Several previous studies have pointed out that travelers aboard prolonged airplane flights are at risk for developing blood clots in their legs (deep vein thrombosis) that may travel to their lungs (pulmonary embolism) and may be fatal.
Prolonged sitting associated with air travel is known to be a cause of clots forming in the legs. Upwards of 30 percent of the population is estimated to have patent furaman ovale (PFO), a common condition where a small hole exists between the right and left sides of the heart. PFO rarely causes any adverse medical condition and can only be determined through specific diagnostic tests such as an echocardiogram.
The research, published in the March 26 edition of Neurology, recounts the cases of three air travelers who sustained a stroke during or after a flight. The first traveler suffered sudden loss of vision four hours into a 12-hour flight and the second developed paralysis down one side of the body at the conclusion of a 14-hour flight. The third person lost hearing in one ear 12 hours after completing two 90-minute flights, separated by a six-hour wait in an airport transit lounge.
The three individuals were all found to have ischemic strokes, the most common type of stroke, which occurs when a clot that is formed in a blood vessel breaks loose and travels to the brain where it blocks the flow of blood.
"Because PFO is so common, more people may be at risk for strokes during or after prolonged air travel," Pullicino explains. "This is particularly true for people who have a history of deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism or prior strokes. I would strongly urge people with these conditions to ask their physicians if they also have PFO."
Although "economy class stroke" may be difficult to predict, Pullicino offers these suggestions to help travelers avoid falling victim to this syndrome during long flights:
• Drink plenty of liquids to avoid becoming dehydrated. When the body dehydrates, the blood starts to thicken and becomes more likely to clot.
• Avoid alcohol because it causes the body to dehydrate.
• Get up and move around frequently to keep blood from pooling in the legs. If unable to get up to move around, exercise the lower legs by extending them and flexing the ankles and toes. Exercise the thighs by sliding the feet back and forth on the floor.
• Wear compression stockings to help prevent the formation of blood clots in the legs.
Read more about this topic: Compression Stockings
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