7 of 92 people who took a placebo had blood clots.
Prevention of swelling during the flight trial was found to be very significant. Those passengers taking FliteTabs experienced a 15% reduction in swelling, whilst those on placebo a 12% increase.
None of those passengers on FliteTabs had a blood clot. 7.6% of passengers on the placebo experienced a blood clot in their legs.
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| None of the 94 people who took Flite Tabs had a blood clot. 7 of 92 people who took a placebo had blood clots. |
1=BEFORE; 2=AFTER; 3: PERCENT VARIATIONS (BLUE=controls; WHITE=treatment group) After flights there was an increased score in controls (+12%) in comparison with a decrease (-15%) in the treatment group. The difference in variation was significant (p<0.02) |
In the London - New York flight trial, 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.
DVT is rather like Russian Roulette. Studies so far indicate that after long journeys, seated without exercise, between 3 and 10% of us will have blood clots. If we are unlucky, a blood clot will block a vein or break away and get carried to the heart & lungs causing serious consequences. Once you have had DVT it tends to happen again - so prevention is very important.
Exercise and hydration are of primary importance. British Airways and many other airlines are now providing advice as a video played as early in the flight as possible. UK Department of Health recommends exercise at 30 minute intervals. The simple routines below can be done whilst seated at your office desk or in any transport, without disturbing your neighbours. By doing these exercises you will help circulation and help prevent blood pooling in the legs.
Athletes, anyone who is extra fit or who has a low resting pulse rate, is advised to take special care. Falling asleep presents additional problems of lack of exercise and a lowered pulse rate.
Hydration is also very important to ensure that our blood does not thicken. Hot or windy conditions on buses and trains are obvious hazards. Air travel presents humidity levels as low as 3% and so dehydration is a high risk.
Conventional advice is:-
1. Minimize alcohol.
2. Minimize tea and coffee as they are diuretic.
3. Drink lots of water.
However, recent a study found that drinking too much water can result in a cycle of urination that results in the blood thickening. Far superior results were obtained drinking isotonic beverages designed for sports hydration. See airhealth.org/hydration
Compression stockings of good quality and correct size can be very helpful in preventing the veins swelling in the lower legs. We have included some links below. By constricting the diameter of veins, the stockings increase the velocity of blood flow. This avoids the sluggish flow that is conducive to clotting.
Surgery and illnesses such as cancer presents a significantly higher risk when combined with travel. Current advice is to avoid travel within 3 months of surgery. Consult your healthcare professionals.
Leg Flexing exercises below are courtesy of Airhealth.org
Frequent leg flexing is the best preventive for ECS. The blood needs to be pushed through the one-way valve system in the veins by contractions of the large muscles. Do it five times or more, firmly and deliberately but not strenuously. If you are bothering your seat mates, you are doing it too vigorously.
How often? The UK Department of Health recommends 30 minute intervals, more frequently if you have risk factors such as athletic training or a history of DVT.
Exercises:
1. Extend your legs if possible and flex your ankles, pulling up and spreading your toes, then pushing down and curling the toes. If your shoes limit toe movement, just make the effort and don't worry, or remove the shoes. Alternative: rotate the ankles, making circles in the air with your toes.
2. If there isn't room to extend your legs, start with your feet flat on the floor and push down and curl your toes while lifting your heels from the floor. Then, with your heels back on the floor, lift and spread your toes. Repeat this heel - toe cycle five times or more.
3. Exercise your thigh muscles by sitting with your feet flat on the floor and slide your feet forward a few inches, then slide back and repeat. Or extend the legs if possible and isometrically flex thigh muscles.
Information resources for medical professionals
Medical Guidelines for Air Travel - published by Aerospace Medical Association
www.asma.org
Links - Compression stockings
Is there any evidence that flight socks prevent DVT?
The reports
www.attract.wales.nhs.uk/question_answers.cfm?question_id=1226
DVT compression stocking
www.ecs-dvt.com
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