Whether you fly, take the train or go by car, DVT risk is same - doctors

FLYING poses no more of a risk of deep vein thrombosis than travelling for a similar length of time in a car, bus or train, new guidance has concluded.

The British Cardiovascular Society said a long-haul flight doubled the risk of the condition - but this is no greater than with other forms of travel.

The chance of getting deep vein thrombosis (DVT) on a flight of four or more hours is one in 6,000 for a fit and healthy person, according to the new guidance, published today.

Even those at high risk of the condition - where a blood clot makes a patient susceptible to pulmonary embolism - can fly, providing they drink plenty of fluids, excluding alcohol, tea or coffee, wear compression stockings and take a blood thinner.

The guidance, in the journal Heart, was drawn up after the House of Lords called for definitive specialist advice to help passengers, doctors and airline carriers assess the risks to cardiovascular health.

It concluded that air travel posed no "significant threat" for heart patients, with few conditions likely to warrant restrictions.

The main impact of flying is breathing in air with a reduced oxygen content in a pressurised environment, resulting in lower circulating oxygen levels in the blood.

However, the blood oxygen levels induced by flying "appear to have little or no adverse circulatory effects" and certainly not for short and medium-haul flights, the guidance says.

Dr David Smith, a cardiologist from the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust, and his team said in the report: "For those with cardiovascular disease who are not critically ill, but who wish to fly on commercial aircraft, the aircraft environment does not pose a significant risk to their health.

"It is only when their under-lying condition is associated with a significant risk of acute deterioration that reasonable restrictions should apply."

They highlighted the impact on cardiovascular health of "airport stresses", such as security measures, the threat of terrorism and luggage handling.

However, they said most airports provided "excellent services" to assist those with health problems or disabilities.

Even passengers with more serious forms of cardiovascular disorders could fly, providing they took their medication, did not over-exert themselves and could access in-flight oxygen and airport assistance, the guidance said.

Some conditions might also require waiting an appropriate length of time before flying, to check there were no complications or to ensure the condition was stable.

The report also confirmed that having a pacemaker did not prohibit flying.

When it came to DVT, it concluded that pilots were at no greater risk than the general population.

Several sets of guidelines on the risk of flying to heart health already exist, but the recommendations vary widely, and there had been widespread public concern about the issue.

The House of Lords asked for definitive guidance to address the concerns.

June Davison, senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said: "This is great news for heart patients.

"Historically, there's been some confusion about when and if people with heart and circulatory conditions can fly. These expert guidelines provide some clarity and show flying is safe for most people with heart and circulatory disease.|

She added: "However, if you've recently had a heart attack, heart surgery or been in hospital with any other heart condition, you should check with your doctor before travelling by air."