Flying Long-haul From Heathrow - Tips To Help Prevent Deep Vein Thrombosis
These days, virtually every Heathrow airport passenger has heard of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), or ‘economy class syndrome’ as it is often called due to the reduced seating and leg room afforded to economy passengers. However, even first-class and business-class passengers can get DVT.
Deep vein thrombosis is a blood clot that forms in a deep leg vein. A deep vein is not one that you can see just below the skin – it is a blood vessel that goes through the muscles.
If you are at risk of getting a DVT, you should consult your GP before embarking on long distance travel.
Whichever class you are flying, during the flight, particularly long-haul flights, you should ensure that you:
•Get comfortable in your seat - place your hand luggage in the overhead compartment to ensure you have maximum leg room
•Avoid drinking alcohol which can lead to dehydration and immobility and drink plenty of water throughout the flight
•Do not take any sleeping tablets that will cause you to sleep for the duration of the flight
•Every so often, exercise your legs - bend and straighten your legs; rotate your ankles and wiggle your toes; press the balls of your feet hard down on the floor to prevent the blood pooling in your feet and increase the blood flow in your legs
•Stretch your upper body and do breathing exercises to further improve circulation
•Try to walk up and down the aisle every now and then to get your blood moving
•Special compression stockings have been developed that can help to prevent travel related DVT. The stockings can be bought at most pharmacies, and need to be ‘graduated compression’ stockings, worn up to the knee with the correct amount of compression (class 2) - your pharmacy will be able to advise you on the correct stockings to buy. However, it is still important to continue with leg exercises throughout the journey as the stockings are an extra prevention, not a cure.
•It has also been suggested that taking a small amount of aspirin (100mg – 150mg) the day before the flight, the day of the flight and a few days after, can help to prevent DVT – some people are sensitive to aspirin, so check with your doctor first.
If you have any suspicions that you may be at high risk from DVT, consult your doctor before you travel as you may be advised to take extra medication to prevent your blood clotting.
When you land, try to walk around a bit to get your blood really flowing properly again. Keep an eye on your legs and if you notice any out of the ordinary swelling - some swelling on long-haul flights is normal - or you have difficulty breathing, request medical advice immediately.
Overall, DVT is a relatively rare occurrence when travelling long haul and only a very small minority of people will ever need to take extra medication during a flight. The best advice for travellers concerned about DVT is to carry out regular leg and feet exercises throughout the flight. However, if you are at all concerned, please consult your doctor before you travel.
*This article was written purely as a guide to preventing DVT and is not intended to replace qualified medical advice.
Paula Garrett is a contributor to the Heathrow information website which offers up-to-date travel information, advice and further tips on travel health.
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