A study by vascular experts has claimed that thousands of long haul airline passengers are at risk of a stroke, due to confined seating conditions.

George Geroulakos and Steve Kakkos, both vascular surgeons at Ealing hospital, will have their research findings published in the European Journal of Vascular Surgery later this week.

The pair claim that people with a common, often undetected heart condition – a small hole in the heart that failed to close during childhood – are in a greater threat of falling victim to ‘economy class syndrome’.

The restricted movement on long haul flights has also previously been linked to deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which has caused a number of deaths in the past decade.

According to the study, blood clots that form in the legs during flights could slip through the hole in the heart and find their way into the brain. Details: www.bhf.org.uk