News
Here at Flite Tabs we believe that by trying to keep you as informed as possible, we will help you adapt and prepare yourself for the long periods of inactivity of modern life. We will try to bring you news and links with the latest information. AirHealth.org also carries news that may be of interest to you. AirHealth.org/news
Press release
Latest news from the E.U.
New Zealand Study
Economy Class Syndrome - the Misnomer
RAC issue French research warning
Press release
NATURAL EXTRACT PREVENTS DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS AND SWELLING ON FLIGHTS
For Immediate Release
London, 22nd September 2003
In this month’s issue of Angiology, a paper has been published entitled “The Prevention of Venous Thrombosis in Long-haul Flights - The Lonflit-Flite Randomised Control Trial”.
In this study Professor Gianni Belcaro, one of the world’s leading specialists in vascular health studied FliteTabs™, a new natural non-toxic nutraceutical product that contains Pinokinase, a combination of pine bark extract and fermented soybean extract. He and his scientific colleagues found that the product prevented Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) in high risk and other subjects, and reduced leg, feet and ankle swelling during long-haul flights. Seven people in the control group (out of 92, 7.6%) had blood clots, while no one who took the extract (out of 94, 0.0%) had a clot. In addition, leg swelling decreased in the people who took the extract, while swelling increased in people who took the placebo.
Currently the only other viable means of preventing these potentially deadly blood clots are drugs such as injectable Heparin or support stockings. According to www.airhealth.org, as many as 100,000 people die each year in the U.S. from flight related DVT and its complications.
Professor Belcaro concludes: “This study, when extrapolated to the general flying population may be more important and significant. Flite Tabs™ offers an important preventative option, without increasing risks (due to use of drugs) or costs.”
Professor Belcaro will be presenting data from this study at a Vascular Medicine conference at The Royal Society of Medicine on October 10th 2003.
FliteTabs™ is a new formulation in tablet form developed by scientists at the Aidan Foundation in the USA. FliteTabs™ has been formulated to promote deep vein health and prevent swelling on long haul flights.
For further information, interviews or invitations to the 10th October presentation please contact: Liz Vater at Kushti Consulting on +44 (0) 7779 228 969. In the U.S. contact Neil Riordan at the Aidan Foundation on +1 602-295-3993.
More information about Flite Tabs™ can be found at www.flitetabs.com
About the Aidan Foundation: The Aidan Foundation is a 501(c)(3) corporation based in Tempe, Arizona. The charity is dedicated to researching and developing healthy solutions to medical problems and disseminating information about those solutions. ENDS
Latest news from the E.U.
As clinical evidence pointing to the health risks of lengthy journeys continues to grow, European public attention is focusing more and more on the issue of travel-related deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
With frequent reports of passengers suffering a fatal DVT following a long trip, European legislators are now recognizing the need for action.
Two European politicians have cited figures of more than 30 people falling victim to a DVT following a long flight , while MEPs from the UK, Belgium, Portugal, Spain, Greece and Germany have all questioned the Commission on what European initiatives are planned.
The Commission has also placed the issue high on its agenda, with the Commissioner for Energy & Transport, Loyola de Palacio, confirming its position: "The Commission is well aware of the recent reports and developments linking deep vein thrombosis to air travel and takes them very seriously" .
She has also written to European airline associations urging their members to inform passengers of predisposing factors and precautionary measures to lessen the chances of suffering a DVT.
These views underline the clear need for public access to expert knowledge and up-to-date information to enable the issue of travel-related DVT to be fully understood and dealt with.
New Zealand Study - ONE IN EVERY 100 AT RISK?
More than one in every 100 air travelers on flights of four hours or more are at risk of developing a DVT, according to a new study .
New Zealander researchers looked at blood samples from 1000 long haul flyers and found evidence of blood clots in 13.
Passengers with a known high risk of classical VTE were excluded.
The study, the first findings of which were released in August 2002, is one of the world's most comprehensive looking at the link between air travel and DVT. It is a joint project between Green Lane Hospital, Auckland, Otago University Wellington School of Medicine, the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand and Christchurch Hospital.
The medics now want to extend their research by looking at 250 volunteers who have suffered a flight-related DVT within the past three years.
Economy Class Syndrome - the Misnomer
Although sometimes described as "economy class syndrome", DVT is not confined to air travelers. With current research indicating any trip of four hours or more - by plane, train, car or coach - can add to the risk, European policy makers are now addressing the issue.
Blood returning to the heart from the legs has to travel against gravity through the veins. Normally, this process is assisted by the leg muscles which act as a pump when moving about, but there is a problem if an individual sits in one place or in cramped conditions for a long time. The blood can gather in the veins and is extreme cases a DVT - blood clot - can develop.
DVT is not dangerous in itself but if the clots break free and pass through the blood system into the lungs (a condition called "pulmonary embolus") it could produce a pain in the chest, worsened by breathing. In rare instances, if the clot is large, it can cause sudden death by traveling to the heart and lungs and interrupting blood flow.
Although everyone is potentially at risk of developing a DVT, especially if they travel for four hours or more, according to the World Heath Organization (WHO) groups at highest risk include :-
Precautions advised by WHO include simple exercises to stimulate the circulation.
RAC issue French research warning
French research showing travel-related DVT is not confined to air transport has led to a warning to drivers to take extra care on long journeys.
In a case-controlled study of 160 patients admitted for DVT, Dr. Ferrari found almost 25 per cent had recently completed a journey of more than four hours - the vast majority by car.
Results of the research first published in the journal of the American College of Chest Physicians, indicated 39 of the patients had a history of travel in the four weeks preceding their illness - most (28) has journeyed by car, with nine going by plane and two by train.
The DVT patients were almost four times as likely to have had a long trip in the past month as a control group.
Dr. Ferrari concluded the findings pointed to a link between lengthy journeys by all modes of transport and increased risk of a DVT.
Jonathan Simpson, parliamentary affairs manager for the RAC Foundation, said: "Traveling for long periods of time on any form of transport can bring health risks.
Although research on the effects of DVT on motorist is still in its early stages, there have been cases of elderly passengers on coaches suffering from this.
Motorists need to get into the habit of taking regular breaks when driving long distances to avoid the threat of DVT, particularly if they are predisposed to blood clots.