Athletes Could Be at Risk During Air Travel

Athletes—mostly runners and cyclists—appear to be at a higher risk for developing life-threatening blood clots during air travel. Athletic people with a lower resting pulse could be prone to having stagnant blood subject to clotting. Another theory is that athletic people are more likely to fly with bruises or sore muscles that can trigger clotting.

Bottom line: Make sure you flex your legs every 15 minutes during air travel. And if you have bruising behind your knee or a painful, swollen calf, see a doctor immediately. Airhealth.org has more information.