The incident involving Tieu A, a first-year university student, has sparked widespread discussion on Trung Quoc social media. She experienced cardiac arrest due to "economy class syndrome" following a 31-hour trip on a hard-seat train, highlighting the health dangers of long-distance travel, Guangming Daily reported on 27/2.

Tieu A's ordeal began around 5h on 21/2, as she concluded her journey from Chengdu to Guangdong East station. Upon disembarking, the student collapsed, lost consciousness, and suffered cardiac arrest. Local hospital medical teams worked for 6 hours to resuscitate her. Prior to her departure, Tieu A had felt chest tightness but proceeded with her travel plans. Prolonged immobility, exhaustion, and dehydration during the trip ultimately led to the life-threatening event.

The 19-year-old student collapsed on the train platform. *Photo: GMW*

Doctor Hou Hong Wi, Head of the Cardiology Department at Zhongshan Hospital in Zhejiang, diagnosed Tieu A with deep vein thrombosis. He explained that this condition commonly affects individuals who remain immobile for extended periods in confined spaces, such as airplanes, buses, or trains. Lack of movement causes the "muscle pump" in the calves to cease functioning, reducing blood circulation by over 50%. The dry, hot environment of vehicles, combined with insufficient water intake, can cause blood to thicken, facilitating the formation of blood clots in the lower limbs.

While many mistakenly believe that blood clots primarily affect the elderly, this condition can impact individuals of all ages. A medical expert cited a case from last year where a 39-year-old man collapsed on a street in Hangzhou, suffering from an extensive pulmonary embolism after 14 hours of sedentary train travel. Doctor Hou likened leg blood clots to a "ticking time bomb". If they detach and travel to the lungs, they can cause blockages, leading to a mortality rate exceeding 30% within the first hour of onset.

Beyond frequent long-distance travelers, other high-risk groups include: office workers who sit for extended periods, pregnant women, obese individuals, those on hormonal medications, and people with underlying medical conditions. To mitigate these risks, doctors recommend that passengers perform light exercises or ankle stretches in their seats every one to two hours. Additionally, individuals should consume about 200 ml of plain water hourly to maintain optimal blood viscosity and avoid alcohol and coffee, which can lead to dehydration.

By Binh Minh (According to Guangming Daily, Sina)