Avoid Blood Clots in Your Legs While Traveling

Exercise
Avoid Blood Clots in Your Legs While Traveling
By Cynthia Kirkeby
Apr 23, 2008, 12:49

As you take your next vacation, or hop on a plane for work, be sure to protect yourself from blood clots by taking a few preventative steps. A little exercise and a few other preventative steps could help protect you from forming a deeply blood clot. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT), otherwise known as a blood clot that forms in the deep vein system of the lower legs strikes thousands of travelers, many of which don't even know they are in danger of a stroke.

Sounds scary, and it is. DVT tends to strike people who have been sitting for a long period of time in the same position. If you've ever taken a coast to coast flight, you know that you don't get to move around much. Between being sardined into seats in coach, and having flight attendant carts ruling the narrow aisles, it's not as though you have a spot to jog during your flight. In addition, the high altitude increases your chance of having complications from one of these clots. If they break loose and travel into a lung, it can cause a blockage (pulmonary embolism) and in the worst cases... death.

If your feet or legs swell when you fly, then you should pay special attention to these tips. That swelling can be an indicator of clot formation.

Here are a few tips from AmesWalker.com, the oldest and largest online compression hosiery retailer.

Avoid alcohol, tea, or coffee but drink plenty of water or juices
Avoid wearing tight clothing around the upper thighs and torso.
Compression hosiery can be worn to prevent blood from pooling in your legs.
To regulate blood flow throughout the body perform simple exercises from your seat at least once an hour.

You can also download a podcast for your iPod to help you get ready. Have a great trip and travel safe.