Travel Season, But Watch For Blood Clots

We seem to be hearing more and more about blood clots these days, particularly associated with warnings when traveling. But what is it you need to be aware of?

Blood clots, called deep vein thrombosis (DVT) are clots that form deep in veins, most often in the legs. These clots sit along side of the vein, slowing down blood flow as the blood passes, but more dangerous – they can break off the wall and follow the blood to your heart and lungs.

When theses clots reach your lungs, they are called pulmonary emboli (plural for embolism), and these can cause death.

People at highest risk for DVTs are those who recently had surgery below the waist, who are immobile, overweight, smoke, or just had a child within the previous 6 months. Some types of medications may also increase the risk of clotting. However, a new category of people at risk has been identified over the past years and that’s people who sit still for long periods while traveling.

Any type of travel where you sit still increases your risk, but flying seems to be the highest risk activity for DVTs. It’s harder to get up and walk around on a plane, your legs are more cramped, and the air is very dry in airplanes, raising the risk of dehydration.

Signs and symptoms:

Signs that you may have a DVT – before it breaks away from the vein wall – are:

• redness in one leg, specifically in one spot
• one leg warmer than the other, specifically in one spot
• pain or tenderness in a specific area of the leg
• swelling of one leg

Signs of a pulmonary embolism include:

• sudden chest pain
• sudden cough
• shortness of breath
• rapid breathing
• rapid pulse

If you have any symptoms of DVT, you should contact your doctor immediately. If you have any symptoms of pulmonary embolism, you should seek emergency help immediately. It’s best to call for emergency help than go for it because you should stay as still as is possible.

What to do while traveling

Move your legs around as much as possible. Get up and walk around regularly and drink a lot of water to stay hydrated. Stay away from caffeine and alcohol, which can promote dehydration. You may want to ask your doctor if you should wear compression stockings. These are special socks that help keep even pressure on your legs, promoting good blood flow.

Here is a quick video that explains what DVT is and what to look for. Just click on the TV screen:

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Images: MorgueFile.com and iStock.com