When you’re on a flight, especially a long one, it’s easy to get absorbed in the entertainment options. The screen in front of you offers a variety of movies and classic TV shows to keep you entertained for hours on end.
However, Emily, who goes by the name ‘alwayssingingmom’ on TikTok, has a story that serves as a stark reminder about the importance of moving around during a long haul flight, even when the temptation is to stay seated and relax.
Emily shared her experience in a viral TikTok video, where she explained how, after sitting for ten hours without moving, she decided to get up and head to the bathroom.
However, before she could even reach the restroom, she suddenly collapsed.
“I coughed three times and that was the last thing I remember.”
As a result of her fall, Emily ended up with a black eye and extensive bruising on one arm.
Once the plane landed, Emily underwent a series of health tests. It was during this testing that doctors discovered she had suffered a saddle pulmonary embolism, a dangerous and often fatal type of blood clot.
Healthline provides an explanation of this condition, stating: “Saddle PE is when a large blood clot (thrombus) gets stuck where the main pulmonary artery branches off into a Y-shape to go into each lung.”
It’s crucial to think about the possibility of blood clots during long flights. As you sit immobile for hours on end, blood clots can form in your legs. According to the American Society of Hematology, this is a known risk during air travel.
They also highlight that cramped leg spaces for prolonged periods—especially over eight hours—can increase the risk of developing blood clots. Other factors, such as taking oral contraceptives, being pregnant, or smoking, can also make you more vulnerable to developing a clot.
“Please get up and move on your flights,” she said. “If you are on oestrogen birth control or if you are doing hormone therapy for perimenopause, menopause please just talk to your doctor.”
