Is there a connection between long airplane flight, venous thromboembolism, and sleep-disordered breathing?
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.
Lopes
Maria-Cecilia
MC
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>
da Silva
Henrique Salmazo
HS
Bittencourt
Lia Rita A
LR
Chervin
Ronald D
RD
Tufik
Sergio
S
D000401:Aircraft; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000453:epidemiology*; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000453:epidemiology*