High Risk for Blood Clots on Airplanes

With high school and college students about to graduate and the days are getting warmer, everyone is thinking about where they would like to go and do for their vacation this summer. The travel season is about upon us.

Whether you are thinking of traveling in a car, bus, train or airplane, you will probably be sitting in the same position for a very long period of time.

Everyone has heard of the risk of blood clots in the veins when sitting for long periods of time. This is called DVT, developing potentially fatal deep vein thromboses. DVT has been associated with long airplane and train travel for many years.

The reduced mobility of airplane travel is considered the highest link to developing fatal deep vein thromboses or PE, clots passing to the lungs where they may obstruct the blood flow and could result in death. The risk factors in airplane include immobility due to cramped seating positions, possible dehydration due to consumption of alcoholic drinks, tea, and coffee and the low humidity of the airplanes cabin, relative hypoxia and reduced barometric pressure.

The overall risk of fatal deep vein thromboses after a long flight is estimated to be about one in 2,000. People who have these known risk factors, the risk is higher. People without other risk factors; their risk is likely to be very low and should be kept in perspective. The combination of immobility and people with high risk factors is the reason for long-travelers developing DVT.

It is known that six to 20 percent of the total population is thought to have some degree of increased clotting tendency. This indicates that there might be a "natural" underlying factor in the general population, which puts them at higher risk.

The good news is that there are preventative measures that can potentially reduce the risk of fatal deep vein thromboses. Preventative treatment has been associated with movement and exercise intervention, which oppose one of the major contributing factors to DVT.

Physical therapists and experts in movement have been able to guide and provide people with movement actions and exercises as a measure in prevention of this potentially killer condition. This is especially important for people who are considered at high risk for DVT including those:

Over 40 years old
Who have already experienced blood clots
Who have or had cancer
With a family history of blood clots
Being treated for circulation problems or heart failure
With certain blood diseases
With an inherited clotting tendency
Recovering from recent surgery, especially hip or knees
Who are pregnant
Who are new mothers
Taking the contraceptive pill
On hormone replacement therapy (HRT)

If you know you are or you know someone that is planning a long-travel trip this summer, consider following these risk-reduction strategies before getting on that airplane or train. If you have a known risk factor these could help save your life.

1. Wear loose clothing
2. Find a comfortable position in your seat and recline if possible.
3. Do not cross your legs when sitting this compresses the blood vessels.
4. At layovers when changing planes, walk as much as possible, don't just set and wait on your flight. If you're not able to leave the plane while refueling, walk the il as many times as you can.
5. Move at regular intervals to increase blood flow through the veins, like every 30 minutes or sooner.
6. When you are permitted, walk around during the long ocean flight.
7. Drink water, plenty of water.
8. Avoid excessive alcohol, as it has dehydrating effects.
9. Postpone long-travel flights for three months after hip or knee replacement surgery.
10. Learn and do in-seat exercise to ensure circulation is kept active.
11. Wear elastic/compression stockings, these are highly recommended.
12. Women who are taking contraceptive pills or hormone replacement therapy should regularly do the in-seat exercises to reduce the risk, as well as wear the elastic/compression stockings.
13. If you are pregnant or nursing, get additional information from your gynecologist.
14. Take along all current prescriptions for all medicine you are taking.
15.Make sure there is adequate medical insurance for your trip.

If you will be traveling in car or bus, the likelihood for DVT is a low risk. Make sure, at every stop, you walk as much as possible. Walking is your friend!