《中英對照讀新聞》Economy class syndrome not due to pressure-study 研究指稱，經濟艙症候群並非肇因於壓力

◎張沛元

Reduced air pressure and oxygen levels do not appear to promote the formation of deadly blood clots during long commercial flights, an ailment sometimes called "economy class syndrome," a report said.

一份報告指出，空氣壓力與氧氣濃度降低，並非是促使在長途飛行中形成致命血栓的元凶，這種病痛有時稱為「經濟艙症候群」。

The findings seem to bolster the widely held belief that clots develop in otherwise healthy people mainly because they are sitting in cramped quarters that slow blood flow, especially in the legs, not because of cabin environment.

這些發現似乎支持一種廣獲接納的看法，也就是在其他方面都很健康的人之所以會發展出血栓，主要原因在於他們坐在導致血流減緩的狹窄空間，特別是腿部，而非肇因於客艙環境。

Travelers have been advised for several years to try to exercise their leg and calf muscles or walk around the cabin to prevent the development of clots that can travel to the lungs, brain or heart. The same problem can occur during long car or train trips.

對旅客行之有年的勸告是要多運動腿部與小腿肌肉，或者繞著客艙步行，以免發生血栓，並流到肺、腦或心臟。同樣問題也會發生於長途汽車或火車之旅。

新聞辭典

due to：片語，歸功於，歸咎於；由於，因為。例句：Due to Typhoon Chanchu, ferry services between Kinmen and Xiaman were suspended。（由於珍珠颱風來襲，往來金門與廈門的渡輪已暫停服務。）

cramped：形容詞，狹窄的；擠得很緊而難以辨認的；痙攣的。例句：Her handwriting is far from clear; actually, it is cramped。（她的字跡並不清晰；事實上，她的字很難辨認。）

cabin：名詞，小木屋；（飛機）座艙；（臨時搭建的）棚屋。cabin crew，飛機座艙組員／空服員，cabin hostess，女空服員，或可做 female flight attendant。

equivalent：形容詞，相等的，相同的；等價的，等值的。名詞，相等物。例句：The French word has no equivalent in English。（這個法文字在英文中沒有相對應的一個字。）