Plane passengers who sit by the window are more likely to develop a dangerous blood clot, new research suggests.
Dutch scientists say that people flying in a window seat are about twice as likely to suffer from deep vein thrombosis (DVT), in which a blood clot forms in a vein deep in the body, the Daily Mail reports.
DVT is dangerous because a clot could potentially break off and travel through the bloodstream to the lungs.
The study, published in the British Journal of Haematology, proposes that sitting by a window may make it easier to fall asleep, which in turn raises the risk of DVT.
Another factor may be a prolonged sitting position. “One explanation may be that passengers are in a more cramped position in a window seat,” the authors write, according to the news provider.
They also found that flying business class or having one alcoholic drink may provide some protection, but the study was not large enough to make any definitive recommendations.
People who are seeking to improve their bodys circulation may be interested in trying nattokinase, an enzyme extracted from a Japanese food called natto.