DVT Management [Deep Vein Thrombosis]

Read about DVT prevention during long flights or car journeys.

How to Prevent DVT People taking long haul flights (over 4 hours) can take a number of precautions to help reduce the risk of getting Deep Vein Thrombosis.

Precautions:

• Wearing Compression Hosiery – Palm Clinic has a range of Stockings and Pantyhose available. Compression hosiery can help travellers by providing legs with the extra support they require to ensure correct circulation. This helps blood return back to the heart and lungs preventing leg swelling. Consult medical advice before choosing appropriate compression hosiery.

• Drink lots of non alcoholic/decaffinated fluids – this will help to stop dehydration. Drinking plenty of water is recommended, and avoiding alcohol, coffee and tea as these dehydrate the body.

• Wear loose fitting clothes – tight clothing such as skin jeans can serve to slow blood circulation down.

• Aspirin 75-150mg – At present there is no evidence to support this but is often recommended because aspirin can prevent clotting by affecting platelet function.

• Use the footrest – particularly if your legs do not reach the floor comfortably.

• Walk around the cabin – and do exercises to contract and relax calf muscles and ankles throughout the flight. Inactivity causes blood to build up in the lower parts of the body such as the ankles, calves and feet. This is due to the veins being unable to pump the blood to the heart, as they rely on leg muscle movement to pump the blood upwards.

• Do not cross your legs – this reduces the pressure on the lower leg and is more helpful to better blood circulation flow.