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DVT , which means deep venous thrombosis, and may be called economy class syndrome, can kill you, so how do you ensure you don't get dvt whilst you travel by air.
Air travel in cramped seats and links with dvt have been denied for years by the worlds leading airlines.
It is now accepted that Longhaul Air Travel can cause DVT ,so this discussion is about longhaul flights.
Prevention of Blood Clots, DVT and Economy Class Syndrome during Long haul Flights is all about the folowing:
1. When you sit or stand for prolonged periods of time, the blood in the veins of your legs has difficulty returning to your heart because of the effects of gravity.
2. Activity of the muscles of your calf are needed to contract (squeeze) and propel (push) the venous blood up your legs and back to your heart.
3. Damage or disease of the leg veins and lack of calf muscle activity leads to congestion (pooling) of venous blood in your legs.
4. Extended periods of venous congestion causes the legs to swell.
5. Damaged or diseased leg veins that are congested may be more visible. They may even protrude and look like ropes wrapped around your legs.
6. These distended and twisted veins are called varicose veins. Blood clots can also occur from the continued pooling of venous blood in the legs.
WHAT IS DVT?
In DVT, a blood clot forms inside a deep vein, commonly dvt forms in the veins of the leg after a long period of inactivity such as long haul air travel.
It has not only been linked to air travel but other forms of extended travel in cramped spaces such as car, bus, and train trips.
One of its causes is when blood pools in the legs during air travel at high altitude, causing a blood clot to occur.
It was called 'economy class syndrome', inaccurately because it was thought it only occurred in the cramped conditions during air travel in economy class seats. In fact it also occurs in Business and First Class!
The clot may partially or completely block the blood flow in the vein.
In many cases the pain or symptoms associated with Economy Class Syndrome may arise several hours or days after air travel.
The most serious risk of DVTis a pulmonary embolism.
1. An embolus is a piece of the blood clot that breaks off, in this case probably from a leg vein.
2. Emboli can travel through large veins but get trapped in smaller ones and block blood flow.
3. This condition is especially serious if an emboli gets caught in the heart or lungs.
4. A blood clot in the lung can cause death.
5. DVT may also cause chronic pain and swelling of the affected leg.
6. A stroke can result from a dvt as a piece of clot becomes mobile and travels to the brain.
In the last few years, doctors around the world have attributed numerous DVT deaths to long distance air travel and described it as Economy Class Syndrome.
Because of the increasing evidence that Economy Class Syndrome is a real health threat on long distance air travel, several airlines have begun to issue warnings and offer prevention exercises.
Air Travel causing Deep Venous Thrombosis [DVT], is a popular if terrifying phrase.
The risks of DVT can be dramatically reduced by following simple health guidelines before and during your air travel.
DVT with fatal or near fatal consequences, as a result of long haul air travel is still very rare, although it has to be said DVT's are still more common than was realised until very recently.
It is important to realise that the GREATEST risk of a DVT linked to air travel appears with:
1. Anyone with a history of leg clots
2. Anyone who has recently had major surgery, leg or pelvic surgery, or recent leg injuries
3. Men or women with Varicose Veins, Phlebitis, or a history of other venous complications
4. Elderly men and women
5. People with Thrombophilia (the opposite of Hemophilia)
6. Obese and tall individuals
7. Smokers
8. Those who have cancer or have had cancer
9. Those with a history of heart attacks or strokes
10. Diabetics
Those at MODERATE risk are
1. Pregnant ladies
2. Ladies on the contraceptive pill or on HRT
3. Anyone on hormonal tablets
4. Anyone with a family history of thrombosis.
Warning Signs of Possible Air Travel DVT [ Economy Class Syndrome ].
1. Pain and warmth in the lower legs
2. Prickly skin sensation in the legs
3. Swelling of the feet or legs
4. Shortness of breath
5. Steps to Prevent Economy Class Syndrome:
There are simple safety precautions to be taken during long haul air travel.
1. Avoid sleeping pills before or during the flight .
2. Avoid long periods of sleep during the flight
3. Do seat exercises, such as ankle rolls and toe pointing.
4. Exercise the calf, and thigh muscles by contracting and relaxing them, as well as rotating the ankles!!
5. Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration
6. Get up and move about periodically, but at least every hour.
7. Limit carry on luggage so there is plenty of leg room
8. Obtain a seat with as much leg room as possible, such as in the first class cabin, on an aisle, or in back of a bulkhead
9. Talk with your doctor about taking aspirin for its blood-thinning properties. An aspirin tablet can be taken unless you are under 16, or have a history of gastric ulcers, high blood pressure, or a history of sensitivity to aspirin
10. Walk around the airport before and between flights.
11. Wear loose, comfortable clothing for all air travel.
12. Alcohol should be taken in moderation
14. A combination of two glasses of red wine, aspirin and a lot of soft drinks is a perfectly acceptable way to stay healthy as well as helping a long air travel journey to pass!!
15. IF YOU HAVE A HISTORY OF THROMBOSIS wearing compression stockings is an essential precaution.
How do Gradient Compression Socks and Stockings help prevent dvt during air travel?
1. Gradient compression stockings help prevent the veins in your legs from becoming over filled with blood (congested).
2. Veins that are congested with blood make your legs feel heavy. They may ache and fatigue easily.
3. These stockings act to prevent leg swelling by counteracting pressures inside the leg and promoting blood flow back to the heart rather than allowing blood to pool in the legs.
4. Compression squeezes the legs. Gradient compression hosiery (often called elastic stockings) are recommended to control leg swelling and leg discomfort and to prevent skin changes.
What is "Gradient Compression?"
1. Socks and stockings that are made tightest at the ankle and gradually decrease in tightness as they go up the leg are called gradient stockings.
Please note it is now possible to be screened to identify if genetically you have an increased chance of a DVT.
For example a man having hormonal treatment for cancer of the prostate and has a genetically identifiable clotting factor problem has a dramatically increased chance of developing a DVT.
The same would hold true for a lady taking HRT with the same genetic profile.
If you are anxious about your susceptibility to dvt during air travel then you can get yourself screened.
IF YOU COULD BE SHOWN HOW TO AFFORD BUSINESS CLASS AIR TRAVEL AND SO VIRTUALLY ELIMINATE THE RISKS OF DVT. Then You Would Certainly Want This Information.
It can be found at http://www.vacation-bargain-finder.com
IF YOU FEEL GRADIENT COMPRESSION STOCKINGS MIGHT HELP YOU ENJOY HEALTHIER AIR TRAVEL, THEN CLICK BELOW
Whatever you do, please check out the following before you read any more.
DVT Protection [http://www.vacation-bargain-finder.com/buy-dvt-prevention.htm]
Tha author of this article is Ian Smith who has specialised over the last twenty years in finding ways that his clients can pay a lot less for their vacations. He runs a very successful travel website http://www.vacation-bargain-finder.com
You may reprint this article as long as it is reprinted in full
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