Travel Tips
How to prevent travel-related deep vein thrombosis
No matter your transportation of choice, sitting motionless for long periods of time puts people at increased risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
DVT refers to blood clots that form deep in your veins, usually in the calf or leg, and results in the sensation of a swollen, painful limb. If you’ve been susceptible to DVT in your past travels, there are a few simple things to do to combat the problem.
- Stand up and walk around at least every hour to keep blood flowing
- Exercise your calf muscles by standing on tip-toes a few times
- If you can’t walk around, exercise legs by stretching them, flexing feet and curling or pressing toes frequently
- Drink lots of fluids, especially water, to prevent dehydration
- Reduce alcohol and coffee consumption, which contributes to dehydration
- Avoid crossing your legs when seated or at least for long periods of time
- Wear compression stockings that put on gentle pressure on leg muscles.
- Don’t wear regular socks that are right or have tight elastic bands at top
- Skip the aspirin; there’s no evidence that it’s effective as a preventative measure
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