A walk on the wild side

Walking is an amazing gift, and the more we do, the greater the health benefits. It keeps the blood circulating, keeps our joints limbered up, and provides an opportunity to talk to ourselves and sort out the complexities of living in the age of homo sapiens.

Although prolonged sitting is not necessarily a precursor to venous thromboembolism, or deep vein thrombosis (DVT), sitting for long periods of time in a confined space such as an aircraft predisposes us to the creation of blood clots. Blood clotting is a good thing under the right circumstances, such as with superficial lacerations from a slip of the kitchen knife while slicing onions for the slow-cooker roast.

Blood clots can also form even if there isn’t a wound. If that clot is large enough in a vein that carries de-oxygenated blood back to the lungs and heart, it takes up residence in your lung as a pulmonary embolism (PE).

DVT is not an uncommon condition, and as many as 50 percent of cases occur without any obvious cause, such as trauma or an underlying blood-clotting disorder. A nasty infection, genetics, and chronic illnesses—cancer, heart disease, smoking, obesity, and lack of exercise—are precursors for developing DVT.

Fortunately, many DVTs can be treated effectively with oral medications, while the most serious cases require more aggressive treatment. For aviation medical certification purposes, a single event of a DVT requires a thorough workup, including a detailed medical history, testing for any blood-clotting disorder, and confirmation of anticoagulant use. A single event, based on the patient and family history, may require short-term anticoagulant therapy and a special issuance authorization will result. If a second event happens, the FAA will require regular use of anticoagulation as part of the follow-up requirements for any class of medical.  

aopa.org/pps