Submitted by Drs. Bohn, Nielsen, Castillo and Benson, The Vein Specialists
An extended trip in a car or on an airplane or train increases your risk for deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a serious complication of vein disease. DVT is the formation of a blood clot inside a vein deep in the body, especially in the legs. DVT may not have any symptoms but can cause pain, swelling, and warmth in the leg. If untreated, people with DVT are at risk for developing a pulmonary embolism in which the blood clot breaks away and travels to the lung. More than a half million people in the United States suffer a pulmonary embolism each year and more than 10 percent of those die. The danger of travel is greater if you have recently had surgery, are pregnant, overweight, smoke or have a history of blood clots.
The risk of DVT should not keep you from traveling but you should take these simple precautions:
- Drink lots of water and avoid caffeine or alcohol.
- Wear loose, comfortable clothes.
- Get out of your seat every hour or two and walk. In an airplane it is helpful to request an aisle seat.
- While seated rotate your ankles, draw circles on the ground with your toes, flex your feet and toes, and raise your legs slightly and hold them in the air for a few seconds. In a car, stop and walk around for a few minutes.
- Avoid crossing your legs while you are seated because that impedes circulation and can cause blood to pool in the veins.
- Wear compression stockings while traveling. Be sure to purchase medical grade stockings, fitted by a trained professional.
Taking these simple actions will reduce your risk of DVT and give you a happier, healthier trip.
Call now to get your legs evaluated by The VEIN Specialists, LLC at 309-862-4000 or visit their website at ILVEINS.com.