On a long transcontinental flight, a middle-aged man gets up and exercises in the aisle, moving his hands, feet, arms, and legs as much as he can. He does this every two hours. The flight attendant asks him to sit down, but he explains that he is trying to prevent a very dangerous medical condition. He is talking about

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The man is likely trying to prevent deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a blood clot that usually forms in the legs during long periods of sitting or inactivity. Moving the muscles and increasing blood flow can help prevent the formation of a clot. Leukemia, aplastic anemia, and thrombocytopenia are all medical conditions related to blood, but they do not have a direct connection to the need for exercise on a long flight.

On a Long Transcontinental Flight, a Middle-Aged Man Gets Up