Long distance travelers should periodically move around and stretch their legs, and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated, said Padma Shri and Dr B C Roy National Awardee Dr KK Aggarwal, President Heart Care Foundation of India and MTNL Perfect Health Mela.
Long–distance travel can lead to fatal blood clots in the lungs. Cancer patients, people who have recently had major surgery such as a joint replacement, and women on birth control pills are especially at higher risk.
In general, travel is associated with a nearly three-fold increase in the risk of vein clots. If such a clot dislodges and travels to the lungs, it can cause a potentially fatal condition called pulmonary embolism or a lung attack.
A combination of factors including dehydration and hours of sitting in cramped conditions explains why some people develop blood clots.
A review, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, analyzed 14 studies involving more than 4,000 cases of venous thromboembolism and found that travelers had a nearly three-fold higher risk of blood clots than non–travelers. The risk climbed along with the duration of the trip, rising 18 percent for every two hours of any type of travel, and by 26 percent for every two hours of air travel.
Symptoms of a blood clot in the leg include pain, warmth, swelling and redness in the limb. If the clot travels to the lungs, it may cause sudden shortness of breath, chest pain or a cough that produces blood.
Some medical conditions and medications increase a person's risk of developing a blood clot. These conditions are pregnancy, obesity, smoking, heart failure, previous vein clots or clots in the lungs, advanced age, some cancers, nephrotic syndrome and drugs like birth control pills, hormone replacement therapy, erythropoietin, tamoxifen, thalidomide. The risk of a blood clot is further increased in people who use one of these drugs and smoke or are overweight.
Tips to prevent development of leg clots while on board with flights longer than 6 to 8 hours
1. Stand up and walk around every 1 to 2 hours.
2. Do not smoke prior to travel.
3. Wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothing.
4. Prefer bulkhead or emergency row seating.
5. Periodically flex and extend the ankles and knees.
6. Do not cross the legs.
7. While seated change positions frequently.
8. Avoid dehydration by drinking plenty of non-alcoholic beverages.
9. Wear knee-high compression stockings.
10. Avoid sedatives and sleeping pills and alcohol, which could impair the ability to get up and move around.
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