How to Avoid Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)

If you feel that you are in a high risk category or have any concerns about deep vein thrombosis (DVT), consult your GP before you fly. Your doctor may suggest that you take a course of Aspirin before and after your flight to thin your blood. However, Aspirin can have other side effects, so you should always have proper medical advice before taking such action. You may also want to consider taking out travel insurance that covers medical treatment for DVT.

Reducing the Risk

There are a number of other ways to reduce the risk of DVT, all of which involve keeping your circulation moving as much as possible.

Avoid Tight Clothing

Make sure that you wear loose fitting clothing to avoid constriction of veins, as this will restrict the flow of blood around the body.

Wear Compression Socks

Elastic flight socks (elastic compression stockings) are designed to reduce the risk of DVT. They work by having greater pressure, or compression, in the lower region near the foot, and lesser compression up near the knee. They are available at most pharmacies and are marketed specifically for use during long haul flights.

Take a Walk

Make sure you have a brisk walk for half an hour before the flight. This can usually be achieved quite easily simply by walking from passport control to your gate. Once on the plane, take every opportunity to get up out of your seat and walk around the aircraft. Try to stand for 10 minutes in every hour where possible.

Sit Correctly

Try to keep your thighs clear of the edge of your seat, and use the footrest if there is one available.

Exercise Regularly

Exercising throughout the flight can help improve your circulation, even while sitting still. This can include simple movements such as rotating your feet in small circles or tensing your leg muscles. Airlines often show short films or have details in their magazine of exercises you can do in-flight to help avoid DVT. For some more ideas, take a look at the article on in-flight exercises.

Avoid Long Naps

While it might be advantageous to get as much sleep as possible, especially during a long-haul flight, it is also vital to keep your circulation moving by regular activity. This means that you should avoid taking sleeping pills, and think about taking short naps, instead of long ones, to avoid prolonged inactivity.

Avoid Dehydration

The air inside an aircraft cabin is very dry, and can lead to dehydration. When the body is dehydrated, normal body functions are compromised, affecting blood circulation around the body. Keep hydrated by following these tips:

• Avoid alcohol and caffeinated drinks before or during the flight, as these compound dehydration.
• Always drink plenty of water.
• Eat smaller amounts of food before and during the flight to avoid digestion problems.

Final Advice

Despite the serious nature of DVT, it is very important to emphasise that DVT is very rare. The best advice is to make sure that you carry out a series of simple exercises that will keep your leg muscles moving throughout the duration of the flight. However, if you experience any form of pain, swelling or discolouration in your legs after a long flight you should consult a medical professional immediately.