What is economy class syndrome? How budget air travel could kill you

Upgrade anyone?Free booze, early boarding and extra pillows might not be the only benefits of flying first class.Known colloquially as “economy class syndrome,” deep vein thrombosis, or DVT, is a life-threatening medical condition that occurs when a blood clot forms in a vein located near the center of the body — making it more difficult to pinpoint and access.

DVT can develop anytime, but long-haul flights and cramped coach seats can amplify the risk.The blockage forms due to a lack of vigorous blood circulation, often caused by sitting in the same position for an extended period.

As the clot forms, many individuals will feel acute pain and swelling near the site.An estimated 1 million Americans will develop DVT annually, and up to 100,000 will die from it.Dr.

Pinakin V.Parekh, a cardiologist at Singapore’s Harley Street Heart and Vascular Centre, tells CNBC that where you sit on the plane may have a bearing on your likelihood of developing DVT, “Theoretically people who are in better classes of air travel — business class, first class — have more space to move about, stretch their legs.

So it’s all about real estate in the plane.”While it is dubbed “economy class syndrome” Dr.Parekh notes that DVT doesn’t discriminate and is linked more to mobility than cabin class, “it can be the only flight of your life, if you decide not to move.”In addition to flying, an increased risk of DVT is associated with similarly long periods of sedentation.

One young gamer in England lost his life after hours of playing video games during the COVID-19 lockdown.DVT affects the deepest veins in your body, usually in the legs or pelvis, though it has been known to occur in the arms, too.

Per the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of DVT include swelling, pain, feelings of warmth, and changes in skin color.However, some people who develop the condition have no symptoms at all.

If left untreated, DVT can result in a pulmonary embolism.The often fatal condition is ca...