Ryanair requests passengers stop wearing jeans on flight as doctor warns they could be 'dangerous'

Jeans might be the go-to thing to throw on when you're heading out of the house, but according to doctors, wearing jeans on a flight might not be as harmless as you think.

First off, airplanes aren't exactly designed for comfort. You're basically sitting still for long periods without a lot of space to move.

It means that your body circulation is already working overtime, and prolonged immobility is never a good thing.

So if you add a pair of skinny jeans into the mix, that can further limit the circulation in your legs.

“The clothing we wear when we fly can significantly impact our circulation,” Dr. Hugh Pabarue, a physician and vein specialist with Metro Vein Centers, told Huffington Post.

Wearing jeans on a plane might not be a good idea (Getty Stock Images)

“For example, tight clothing is not recommended. Wearing leggings and other restrictive garments such as skinny jeans that are too tight reduces blood’s ability to flow into and out of the legs.”

Your veins rely on movement and gentle muscle contractions to push blood back up toward your heart, particularly from your legs. When you sit still, blood flow already slows down.

Skinny jeans make that problem worse by not only being unfashionable but also by physically compressing key areas like the waist, hips, thighs, and behind the knees.

Tight closing restricts blood flow (Getty Stock Images)

That tight pressure can narrow blood vessels, reduce blood flowing back to the heart and trap blood in the lower legs.

“We’ve all experienced ankle or leg swelling during a flight. The decompressed cabin and sitting in an upright chair for more than two hours will always result in some swelling,” added Dr. Peter J. Pappas, a vascular surgeon with the Center for Vein Restoration.

“Sitting for extended periods of time, especially on planes, can lead to blood pooling in the legs, increasing the risk for deep vein thrombosis ― a serious medical condition where a blood clot forms in a deep vein of the leg.

A physician has explained why 'restrictive garments' could be dangerous to fly in (Getty Stock Images)

“Wearing clothes that are too tight can potentially lead to conditions like compartment syndrome or meralgia paresthetica, causing numbness, tingling, and severe leg pain.”

Skinny jeans alone don’t cause blood clots, but they can add to the risk when paired with long periods of immobility, dehydration, recent surgery or injury.

Think of it like stepping on a garden hose. The tighter the squeeze, the harder it is for blood to move freely.

Opt for looser fitting clothes - like baggy jeans. At least you would most certainly be on trend.