MacDonald's Prescriptions & Medical Supplies

Compression Therapy - Travel Thrombosis

Preparing to travel
Whenever your legs are restricted during a long journey -- whether flying or on the road -- they’re going to have a hard time. If you stay seated and don’t move around, you may be at increased risk of developing Traveler’s Thrombosis, otherwise known as “Economy Class Syndrome.”

Traveler’s Thrombosis is actually Deep Vein Thrombosis (or DVT). DVT is a blood clot that forms in a leg vein, often after a person has been sitting for a long time, a typical situation during long-distance travel. A DVT can flow through the bloodstream and lodge in the lungs. This is called a pulmonary embolism, and it has the potential to cause death. Symptoms can include:

Swelling of one leg
Numbness or tingling in one leg
Pain or tenderness in one leg
Increased warmth or redness in one leg
Shortness of breath
Pain in the chest

DVTs can also occur with no symptoms

Risk factors:

Increasing age
Dehydration
Alcohol consumption
Wearing constrictive clothing
Blood disorders
History of DVT
Smoking
Immobility
Obesity
Heart disease
Malignant disease
Trauma or surgery
Pregnancy
Hormone medication

What can you do to help?
* Keep moving your feet. Foot exercises make the calf muscles work and help to pump blood back up to the heart.
* Stand up as often as possible and make use of whatever space is available.
* Drink plenty of fluids while traveling (to replace fluid loss). Avoid alcohol.
* Studies have indicated that wearing compression stockings during a long flight reduces the risk of Traveler’s Thrombosis. A normal, healthy person should wear 15-20 mmHg to 20-30 mmHg compression stockings during the journey.
* You may want to consider drug treatment to reduce the risk of clotting. Consult your family doctor for advice.