How to prevent blood clots on long-haul flights after woman almost dies during plane journey

A 'healthy' woman who almost died on a long-haul flight has warned others not to make the same mistake as she did.

No matter your feelings towards flying, traveling for at least 10 hours on a plane can be a lot - even with the plane's entertainment system brimming with films and TV classics.

But Emily - who goes by the username 'alwayssingingmom' on TikTok - suffered a usually-fatal health issue after not moving from her seat for 10 of her 13 hour, non-stop flight.

Early last month, on a flight from Toronto to Dubai, she got up to two and half hours before landing to use the toilet.

In a viral TikTok video, the 33-year-old explained how she collapsed before making it there, gaining a black eye in the process.

Medical tests upon landing revealed Emily had suffered a saddle pulmonary embolism - a devastating and usually fatal blood clot which gets stuck where the main pulmonary artery branches off into a Y-shape to go into each lung.

Emily - who was also wearing compression socks for the journey - has now urged people to stay active on their flights, admitting it's a 'miracle' she's still alive.

What causes blood clots?

The National Health Service (NHS) explains that 'prolonged periods of immobility' can lead to 'slow blood flow in the veins' which therefore increases the risk of developing a blood clot within a deep vein in the body, known deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

According to the NHS, the risk of healthy people developing DVT is 1 in 107,000 for flights less then four hours, 1 in 4,600 for flights over four hours, and 1 in 1,200 for flights over 16 hours.

However certain factors - including being overweight, recent surgery, or taking the combined oral contraceptive pill, the latter of which Emily was doing - can increase your risk.

Blood clots usually form in the legs, however parts of them can break off and travel to the lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism (PE).

If left untreated, about one in 10 people with a DVT will develop PE.

Symptoms of a blood clot

Oftentimes, blood clots don't come with any sort of warning signs.

However, Emily recalled feeling a heavy 'dull ache' in her chest before coughing 'three times' and passing out.

The NHS says you should 'seek urgent medical attention' if, while flying, you develop breathing difficulties and swollen, painful legs - especially if one is more so than the other.

You may also notice a heavy ache in the affected area, warm skin in the area of the clot, and redness at the back of the leg below the knee.

DVT can still occur up to eight weeks after a trip, so be sure to remain cautious.

How to prevent DVT

The NHS has outlined a number of precautions to take to lessen the chance of a DVT forming.

Moving around 'as much as possible' during your long-haul flight is perhaps the most vital move of all, as Emily concurs.

Movement

While staying active might be difficult - especially in economy - there are a few things you can do to help yourself out.

These include opting for an aisle seat to encourage you to move around more during the journey.

You can also carry out calf muscle exercises, such as flexing and extending your ankles, to encourage blood flow.

Hydration

Keeping well hydrated will not only make you feel less groggy, but will encourage you to get up and go to the toilet, thus moving your legs more.

However the NHS advises avoiding excessive alcohol consumption - and the use of sleeping tablets, for that matter - as this 'may discourage you from moving'.

Compression socks

The NHS recommends wearing compression socks if you're at higher risk of DVT.

These work by applying controlled pressure to the leg, to improve blood flow in the veins.

But don't rely on these alone; ensure you're regularly getting up and moving around too.

In her TikTok video, Emily says she was wearing 'professionally fitted' compression socks for the first time on her flight when she got her blood clot - and she warned that relying on those alone simply wasn't enough.

What's more, NHS warns that incorrectly fitting compression socks can actually increase your risk of DVT or PE.

So keeping your legs active is most likely your safest bet.