Experts: Cheap Seats Don’t Raise Clot Risk

Sitting in coach class doesn’t increase your risk of a blood clot after a long flight, an expert group says. Some people have called these clots “economy class syndrome.” But people in first class have about the same risk, new guidelines say. The guidelines come from the American College of Chest Physicians. They include advice on preventing deep vein thrombosis. This type of clot occurs in the leg. It is more common after a long flight or another long period without movement. The guidelines also cover prevention of clots in the lungs and in arteries. The risk of deep vein thrombosis is very low, the guidelines say. The average risk is 1 out of 1,000 people each year. That risk doubles on flights of at least 8 hours. But you can help prevent these clots if you get up and move around on the flight. Some people have a greater risk.