Deep Venous Thrombosis
(Blood Clots)
As a result of expanding worldwide air travel, hospitals close to
international airports occasionally receive patients with symptoms typical of deep
venous thrombosis (DVT) that may have started before flight, inflight, on arrival,
or even days after arrival. This is a blood clot, usually in the leg, that can cause
pain and swelling. Clots in the legs are not serious in themselves, but
occasionally they break off and travel to the lungs (called pulmonary embolism)
causing chest pain and shortness of breath. This is not a common occurrence,
but when it does happen, it can be life threatening. One of the causes of DVT is
believed to be prolonged immobilization, such as sitting for many hours at a time,
particularly in an individual with preexisting risk factors