Traveller's thrombosis
Passengers flying long-haul are at risk of developing small clots. Whilst many of these will dissolve without treatment, some may develop into larger clots and can affect the leg over a long-term or even travel to the lung. These simple steps will reduce the risk of developing a deep vein thrombosis:
- Before travelling, obtain a pair of Mediven travel elastic stockings by emailing jscurr@uk-consultants.co.uk and wear them during the flight.
- Before boarding, take a reasonable amount of exercise and avoid drinking alcohol.
- During the flight, drink plenty of water and avoid excessive consumption of alcohol. While sitting in your seat, move your feet up and down regularly and try to walk round the aircraft a number of times.
We believe that these simple measures are effective in reducing the risk of developing a small or large blood clot when flying.
Some passengers do have a relatively high risk of developing a deep vein thrombosis. This includes those who have had a deep vein thrombosis in the past, have recently undergone major surgery or are suffering from serious illnesses. If you are in this situation you should seek advice either from our complimentary travel clinic or from your own GP. Using simple precautions everybody can travel safely.