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Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)

You may have heard about this on the news over the past few years as a few profile cases hit the headlines.

What is it?
In simple terms it is a blot clot that can happen in your legs caused by inactivity during a long flight i.e. if you stay still and don’t move around then your blood doesn’t flow as well through your body. The scary thing is that when you move around after the flight the blood clot can shift through your system and head to parts of your body where it shouldn’t be...and kill you.

We don’t want to scare you too much as it is easy to prevent, but if you know the consequences at least we know that you will take the precautions. Although it has another name which seems to be disappearing, that of ‘Economy Class Syndrome’ (because of the more cramped conditions) backpackers reading this who like to travel first class should take note - it can happen to you too.

How to avoid it
Keep the blood flow moving in your legs by moving them every now and then. Simple. I tend to take an aspirin before I fly (it thins the blood), wear my DVT socks, do my ‘exercises’ and also get up and walk around on the flight every now and then (something I like to do anyway for comfort on long flights). It is a serious risk, people do die from it every year, the airlines are now taking it seriously...so a bit of prevention is fine by me!

DVT Socks
These are specially made socks which help stop you getting DVT by helping the circulation in your legs. They are like normal socks, usually come in black or blue, are not particularly expensive, we all wear them on flights...so we would suggest you get a pair yourself and wear them when you fly.

Click here >> to see / buy some DVT socks

Taking aspirin
Aspirin thins the blood and so helps to prevent DVT, as long as you do a bit of exercise as well. Always worth having in your daypack for the plane.

Exercises
There are loads of little exerciser you can do with your feet during the flight to stop DVT. Here are a few of the favourites:

- Legs outstretched, roll your toes in a circular motion both ways and then up and down for a couple of minutes
- Some people take a golf ball and roll it around under their foot to get the same effect, however, can be easy to lose
- Get up and walk around the plane, although not best in the middle of the film