A doctor has highlighted the importance of taking precautions before and during a flight to avoid blood clots.
Holidays are often eagerly anticipated, with many looking forward to boarding a plane, indulging in some snacks, and unwinding for the journey ahead. However, a medical expert has issued a warning that personal health checks are just as crucial as those a pilot carries out on an aircraft before departure.
Foot surgeon and social media star Dr Dana Digura, who has amassed a following of one million on Instagram due to her health tips, has pointed out that Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) poses a threat on long-haul flights. According to the NHS, DVT is a serious condition that can happen during air travel because of extended periods of sitting still, which can lead to decreased circulation in the legs and clot formation.
Dr Digura has identified additional risk factors for DVT, including the use of birth control pills, pregnancy, obesity, recent surgery, smoking, and having varicose veins.
In a video response to a man who advised his fiancée to regularly stretch her feet and heels during a flight because she takes birth control, Dr Digura confirmed: "Yes, if you're on birth control pills you're at risk of getting a potential deathly blood clot called DVT. You're at risk of this on flights over four hours and it's sometimes called economy class syndrome."
She further cautioned: "The risk is even higher for flights over six hours."
Dr Danielle Bajakian, a respected vascular surgeon and the director of the Vein Program at Columbia University Department of Surgery, is in agreement about the dangers of immobility. She stressed: "Your veins really need some mobility to circulate the blood from your feet back up to your heart. If you're in a position where you're not doing anything, you're also enhancing the likelihood that you're going to get a blood clot."
With those concerns in mind, Dr Digura has offered some advice to help reduce the risk of blood clots during flights. The expert recommends: "Try and get up and walk every hour, this helps activate the calf muscles and stop blood from pooling in your legs. Even if you can't get up and walk, you can activate your calf muscles with foot pumps, calf raises and ankle circles."
She further suggests that compression socks aren't just for one person but the whole family. Detailing their benefits, she said: "They help reduce swelling and improve blood flow."
You can buy compression socks from Boots for £14.20 or from Amazon for £5.99. According to Boots, it's not only about comfort: "A simple pair of socks can make all the difference by boosting circulation, supporting veins, and preventing leg swelling, blisters, shin splints, and general aches and pains."
Following Dr Digura's advice grenade on video, feedback has poured in with one traveller sharing their apprehension: "This is absolutely my biggest fear. I travel internationally....a lot....on long hauls, but I worry because I'm a plane sleeper. Like sitting in my seat for 3+ hours at a time sleeper!".
While another expressed relief at coming across the tips: "Thank god I see this before I go on a 23 hour flight next weekend," showing that the guidance may have come just in the nick of time for some.
If you're concerned about blood clots or circulation issues, check out the NHS website or have a chat with your GP. If you're showing signs of DVT and also feeling short of breath or having chest pain, ring 999 or head straight to A&E without delay.
English (United States) ·