Woman Nearly Dies on 13-Hour Flight After Taking One Prescription Pill

What started as a sunny getaway quickly became a terrifying medical emergency for 34-year-old Emily Jansson.

The Canadian mother of two was flying to Dubai with friends when, ten hours into the flight, she stood up to use the bathroom and suddenly collapsed with severe chest pain.

Flight attendants and passengers rushed to help as Emily hit her head during the fall, leaving her with a black eye and little memory of the event.

But the real danger wasn’t the fall—it was what doctors would soon discover after the plane landed.

A Dangerous Clot Revealed

Once on the ground in Dubai, Emily was rushed to the hospital, where scans revealed a rare and deadly condition: a saddle pulmonary embolism—a massive blood clot lodged in the main artery of the lungs.

The clot had formed silently and could have caused cardiac arrest at any moment.

Doctors told her she was lucky to be alive. “I was on the verge of a heart attack,” she later said.

The Pill Millions Rely On—But Few Question

After six days in the hospital and emergency treatment, the cause became clear.

Emily had been taking Zamine, a widely used estrogen-based birth control pill, for years.

Though the risk of blood clots is considered low, factors like long-haul flights and limited movement can raise that risk significantly.

Doctors say combining hormonal birth control with extended immobility—like sitting on a long flight—can be a dangerous mix for some women.

Emily is now on blood thinners for at least six months and says she wants to warn others about a risk she never saw coming.

A Hidden Risk Worth Knowing

Millions of women take similar contraceptive pills every day, often without incident.

But Emily’s story is a reminder that even common medications can carry rare, but serious, risks—especially under certain conditions.

Her advice to others: take extra care during long flights. Move around, stay hydrated, and always talk to a doctor about any personal risk factors.

The article is based on information from Dailystar.