What You Need to Know About the Risk of Blood Clots on Long Flights
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When someone is about to board a long flight, a list of things to worry about often runs through their head: Will I actually be able to fall asleep? How bad will my jet lag be? Do I have enough snacks? For some, the concern over blood clots might figure somewhere on that list. After all, flights longer than four hours can increase the likelihood that a clot (a clump of gel-like blood) will form in a deep vein and cause deep vein thrombosis, or DVT. The condition can lead to serious and potentially fatal outcomes if the clot breaks loose and gets lodged in a lung artery, preventing blood flow. When this happens, it’s called a pulmonary embolism.
One study found that most people are at risk for developing DVT on one out of every 4,656 long flights, which is a relatively low likelihood. So it might be easy to dismiss it as something that, in all probability, won’t happen to you. However, your odds are higher if you have certain risk factors, like a condition that causes a lot of inflammation, including lupus, ulcerative colitis (UC), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or certain cancers. That’s because these conditions—and sometimes even the drugs that treat them—can increase the possibility that you’ll get a blood clot.
To put the increased risk into perspective, research suggests that patients with UC and Crohn’s disease (inflammatory conditions that impact the digestive tract) are two to three times more likely to get blood clots than the general population, for example. This higher probability was something Georgi Shirley, an England-based independent travel agent who has Crohn’s disease, found out about after she was diagnosed. But she took the news in her stride. “I have always taken precautions for blood clots because they run in my family,” she says.
Here are the steps experts say you can take to stay safe if you are at increased risk.
Keep your plans flexible
Studies have shown that upwards of 71 percent of people with inflammatory bowel disease who develop clots or pulmonary embolism have active disease at the time. Similarly, the risk of clots or pulmonary embolism more than doubles for people with rheumatoid arthritis when their disease becomes active. “[Flare-ups are] probably the biggest risk factor for clots in general…especially in a scenario of prolonged immobility, like on a long flight,” says Tenzin Choden, MD, an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Chicago and board-certified gastroenterologist.
If you start flaring up right before a trip, you may want the peace of mind of knowing that you can reschedule your flights and postpone your travel, so consider paying a little more for refundable tickets and lodging. “I always make sure my hotel reservations are flexible,” says Shirley. “I also ensure my travel insurance covers my condition…in case I need to cancel.”
Stay on top of your medications
With certain inflammatory diseases, like UC and Crohn’s, your risk of DVT is higher during flare-ups, so Dr. Choden recommends sticking closely to your doctor’s treatment plan before embarking on your trip. “Making sure you’re up to date with your doctor and continuing all your medications will help,” she says. If you’re taking any drugs that can increase blood clot formation, ask your health care provider if it’s safe for you to fly.
Don’t just sit there
A big reason long flights raise your risk for blood clots is because they force you to be immobile for hours on end. But you can still sneak in some movement. “Make sure you’re moving your legs, even if you’re just standing next to your seat and doing calf raises,” Dr. Choden says. Whenever possible, Shirley books a seat in the back of the cabin where there’s usually more room to move around. “You have the alleyway around the toilets where you can stand up with a bit more space,” she says. If you can’t choose the seat you want, Shirley recommends calling the airline and explaining your medical condition. “Nine times out of 10, they will book me a seat near where I want to be,” she says.
Switch out your socks
While most of your outfit should be loose to help your blood flow more easily, the opposite is true below your knees. Compression stockings, which are those super-tight socks that go up your entire calf, have been proven to reduce your chance of developing DVT. “They are helpful to prevent blood from pooling in the bottom half of your legs,” Dr. Choden says. They come in different strengths, but Dr. Choden recommends getting ones that provide between 15 and 20 millimeters of mercury (mmHg) of pressure. Talk to your doctor about which level of compression might be best for you.
Read More: The Best Compression Socks for Long-Haul Flights and Road Trips
Know the signs of DVT
It’s vital that everyone knows the symptoms of deep vein thrombosis. “The highest risk is about one to two weeks after a flight, and traditionally you’ll have pain and swelling in your legs that doesn’t go away,” says Dr. Choden. If the clot dislodges, it can spread to your lungs and cause a pulmonary embolism. Potential signs of a pulmonary embolism include sudden shortness of breath and chest pain that may get worse when you breathe. Think you may be experiencing a blood clot or pulmonary embolism? Seek help immediately, as it can constitute a medical emergency.
While this may sound scary, don’t let it keep you from seeing the world. “It’s one of the biggest questions I get: ‘I’ve been diagnosed [with irritable bowel disease]. Can I still travel?’” says Shirley. “And I say, ‘Of course, you can!’ It does not stop you.”
Originally Appeared on Condé Nast Traveler
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