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- CALGARY - Travelers who
fly economy class now have science to back up their complaints of discomfort.
Doctors say it causes medical problems so common they've earned an official
title -- Economy Class Syndrome.
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- Sitting in the cramped space of an airline's coach seating
can cause blood clots, a pooling of the blood that in some cases is fatal,
say medical specialists.
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- Dr. Graham Pineo, who heads up the thrombosis research
unit at Calgary's Foothills Hospital, says flying business class -- with
its extra leg-room -- is much better for your health.
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- Trouble is, not everyone can fly in the wide open spaces
of business class. So, when you're flying economy, Pineo says the solution
is to get up, walk around and drink plenty of fluids to keep yourself hydrated.
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- The danger of blood clots is not widely known, and it
certainly isn't advertised by the airline industry.
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- Pineo would like to see airlines provide brochures advising
people on how to avoid blood clots.
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- He sees it as a necessity as more people travel long
distances -- and as the space between those economy class seats seems to
get smaller.
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