title: Is there a connection between long airplane flight, venous thromboembolism, and sleep-disordered breathing?
abstract: Commercial passenger flights have been increasing around the world. The effect of these flights on health is unclear. Venous thromboembolism has been noted after recent long-distance airplane flight, even in the absence of other risk factors. Hypoxia caused by the low ambient pressure during flights could contribute, and individuals with obstructive sleep apnea may be particularly vulnerable. The association between the effects of long airplane travel and sleep-disordered breathing deserves further study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychobiology in UNIFESP, R. Dr. Napoleão de Barros, 925, CEP: 04024-002, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. m.cecilialopes@psicobio.epm.br <m.cecilialopes@psicobio.epm.br>
authors.forename: Maria-Cecilia
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.forename: Henrique Salmazo
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: Lia Rita A
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Bittencourt
authors.forename: Ronald D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Chervin
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tufik
mesh_terms: D000401:Aircraft; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000453:epidemiology*; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000453:epidemiology*