PASSENGERS looking to dress comfortably while at the airport might put their health in danger, experts say.
As the summer begins, millions of travelers are expected to fly to head to their vacation destinations; however, how they dress at the airport may hinder those plans.
Passengers might want to change how they dress before getting on a flight[/caption]
Several experts say wearing leggings or jeans could cause circulation issues while flying[/caption]
Dr. Hugh Pabarue, a vein specialist with Metro Vein Centers, told the Huffington Post that certain types of clothing can have an impact on circulation when flying.
“The clothing we wear when we fly can significantly impact our circulation,” he told the outlet.
“For example, tight clothing is not recommended. Wearing leggings and other restrictive garments such as skinny jeans that are too tight reduces blood’s ability to flow into and out of the legs.”
He added that sitting for an extended amount of time, especially on a plane, can lead to blood pooling in the legs, which increases the risk of thrombosis — a serious leg condition where a blood clot forms in a deep vein of the leg.
“Wearing clothes that are too tight can potentially lead to conditions like compartment syndrome or meralgia paresthetica, causing numbness, tingling, and severe leg pain,” said Dr. Pabarue.
He added that not all leggings are the same, but still advised wearing them or jeans, especially if they’re tight around the waist, thighs, and ankles.
Christine Negroni, an aviation specialist, made headlines after warning travelers against wearing leggings on flights.
She’s even working on a book titled, Don’t Wear Leggings on an Airplane — and Other Lessons From Unhappy Landings.
“The issue with leggings is the nature of the material,” Negroni told HuffPost.
“You have a tight garment that is usually made from synthetic fibers, made from petroleum products, which is not something you want to wear on an airplane because the largest risk in a survivable air accident is fire.”
She added that most air accidents are survivable, such as an emergency landing.
“In those cases, your biggest risk is not necessarily the impact but that something’s going to happen to the integrity of the airplane, resulting in a fire because of the fuel on board.”
However, in the event of a fire, wearing clothes that fit tightly against your skin isn’t a great idea.
“It is going to get very hot, it will either melt on your skin or cause serious burns, and that becomes something that will impact your ability to escape the aircraft,” said Negroni.
“In other words, if you’re not damaged beyond an ability to exit, to get out of the airplane, then you might be affected by the fire.”
Being involved in an aviation accident is low; however, Negroni believes it’s still important to make these decisions.
WHAT TO WEAR
While regular, everyday leggings aren’t ideal to wear on a flight, specialized legwear could prove a better option.
“Medical-grade compression stockings counter the effects of a decompressed cabin,” said Dr. Peter J. Pappas, a vascular surgeon with the Center for Vein Restoration.
“The compression stockings prevent the swelling and provide pain relief to your calf muscles.
“There is also data to indicate that patients with varicose veins who wear compression stockings during long plane flights have a decreased likelihood of developing a deep vein clot.”
Compression socks and leggings are designed to apply a gentle pressure that encourages blood and lymphatic fluid to move upwards.
This prevents pooling in the lower extremities and supports the body’s natural flow.
Wearing tight clothes on a flight could cause thrombosis, said a doctor[/caption]
An aviation expert offered an alternative[/caption]
