Congress recently passed a $63 billion funding bill for the Federal Aviation Association (FAA), a new question remains though as to whether the bill will address the “economy class syndrome.”
The “economy class syndrome” refers to the popular notion that passengers who fly in the economy class sections of airplanes are more likely to develop blood cots, especially those who sit next to window seats in the economy class.
Medical experts refer to the blood cots as deep vein thrombosis, which can lead to death and have been associated with flight passengers’ inactivity during long flights while sitting in the economy class section.
Passengers in business and first class sections tend to have more room to move around, whereas economy class passengers are likely to remain confined to their smaller more narrow seats and aisles.
“Traveling in economy class does not increase your risk for developing a blood clot, even during long-distance travel,” said Dr. Mark Crowther, of McMaster University, Fox News reports. “However, remaining immobile for long periods of time will.”
The $63 billion FAA Modernisation and Reform Act of 2012 was jointly passed by both chambers of Congress last week. The funding is meant for certain measures and improvements to be taken by the FAA, including newly designated airspace and a revitilazation of air space surveillance systems.
According to representatives from the American College of Chest Physicians, sitting next to a window on a flight in economy class makes passengers less likely to get up and move around during the flight, which is primarily because they constrained to more tight spaces and have to step over people to get to and from their destination.
Senior citizens, cancer patients, and female passengers taking contraceptive pills on eight to 10 hour flights are the passengers who are most at risk for developing blood clots, Fox News reports.
The new FAA bill includes several provisions for improving air travel, including further enhancing aviation safety by increasing the sharing of data between airline employees and the FAA.
However it remains unclear as to whether any of the funds will be used to improve conditions for air passengers who are more susceptible to developing blood clots on long flights.
