What Is Deep Vein Thrombosis?

DVT stands for Deep Vein Thrombosis, which is what happens when
a blood clot forms in one of the major veins in your body. DVT most
commonly happens in the leg, but it can also happen in the lower
abdomen or pelvis.

It’s pretty rare, with only 1 in every 1,000 people in the
UK affected by DVT every year, but your risk of getting DVT
increases if you’re unwell or immobile for long periods of
time. Because of this, you should stay extra aware when on a long
haul flight, bus, train or car journey.

You’re more at risk of a DVT on a long flight because
there’s likely to be pressure pushing from the edge of your
seat onto your leg, and because the caffeine and alcohol you might
enjoy makes you dehydrated. With those blockbuster movies keeping
you glued to the seat, you’re also less likely to want to get
up and stretch your legs. However, it only takes a few minutes to
avoid the risk of DVT when travelling. Follow our handy DVT guide
to make sure you’re aware of the warning signs and how to
avoid them even while you’re deep in ‘flight
mode’!

Who can get deep vein thrombosis?

First off, anyone at all can get DVT. Blood clots aren’t
common, but your chance of getting one rises if you’re not
moving for long periods of time or if you’re dehydrated. DVT
becomes more common with age, but is generally something that
happens if you’re inactive for any reason.

Because of this, there are groups of people who have to be even
more careful to avoid it. People are at higher risk of DVT if
they:

smoke
are pregnant
have a long-term illness
have had DVT before
have a family history of blood clots
are very overweight
are over 40

How can I tell if I’ve got a DVT?

Sometimes a DVT will show no symptoms at all, but this is rare.
To make sure you’re clued up on what to look for, some
warning signs are:

pain in your leg or around the pelvis
swelling and tenderness
a heavy ache
warm skin
redness

DVT most commonly affects the calf of one leg, but this
isn’t always the case. If you think you’ve got a DVT,
see a doctor as quickly as possible.

DVT itself is painful, but the worry is that some of the clot
could break off, travel around the body’s bloodstream and
block a blood vessel in the heart or lungs in what’s called a
pulmonary embolism, which can sometimes be fatal.

If you get a pulmonary embolism, you might feel breathless,
collapse suddenly and have chest pains which get worse when
breathing in. Both DVT and pulmonary embolism are serious
conditions, so if you think you’ve had a clot, make sure to
see a GP as soon as possible.

How can I avoid a DVT while travelling?

The main ways to avoid getting a DVT are to stay hydrated by
drinking plenty of water and to stay mobile. If you’re about
to travel on a long flight and think you’re more at risk,
choose an aisle seat making it easier to get up and exercise your
legs whenever you can. Some simple exercises can make all the
difference. You don’t need to start your own airline yoga
class to stay mobile while travelling: a few stretches and a walk
along the aisle will do!

Drinking lots of water on a long trip is very important:
passengers often get dehydrated on planes as the air can be dry and
because they’re drinking caffeine or alcohol. If you’re
dehydrated your blood gets thicker than usual and is thereby more
likely to clot. It’s a good idea to make sure you’ve
always got a bottle of water on hand when you’re
travelling.

Anti-embolism socks or stockings (AES) can also help reduce the
risk of DVT. Be careful to come to a specialist from your local
Superdrug Travel Clinic first to choose the right type and size for
you. Wearing an ill-fitting AES could actually increase your
chances of getting DVT, so you must be sure that you have them
fitted by an expert.

MYTHBUSTING

Myth: taking an aspirin before a flight removes the risk of
DVT.

In actual fact, aspirin is only proven to stop blood clots
forming in your arteries and does nothing at all for your veins.
There’s no medical evidence to suggest that aspirin helps
guard against Deep Vein Thrombosis, so don’t bother taking
that pre-flight pill!

5 tips to avoid a DVT when flying

Travelling with friends or family? Take turns to remind each
other to stretch your legs and toes.
If you’re on your own, set an hourly reminder on your
phone (in flight mode!) to exercise your legs so you don’t
forget.
If you’re drinking alcohol or caffeine, challenge
yourself to match every drink you have with a glass of
water.
Before you tuck into your in-flight meal, why not stretch your
legs by taking a trip to the bathroom to wash your hands
first?
For every blockbuster film you watch, try to drink one glass of
water and take a quick, full body stretch (taking care of the
person in the seat next to you!)