If you re traveling for hours in a crowded airplane this holiday season, that trek could take a heavy toll. Physical therapists warn that having just 32 inches of space between your back and the seat in front of you can cause serious health problems.
Blood clots can form in the legs after four or more hours sitting in a tight space.
The clots can break loose and travel to the heart or lungs. The condition is thought to kill more than 100 air passengers a year. But it is a problem, says Marilyn Moffat, a professor of physical therapy at New York University. More common are general stiffness, muscle cramps and back aches, which can occur after just two or three hours of sitting, she says. Drink plenty of water, avoid salty foods while flying and take walks around the plane as soon as the Fasten Seat Belt sign is turned off.