Avoiding DVT During Travel

Long-distance travelers can take heart in new guidelines issued by the American College of Chest Physicians. The expert panel suggests that “traveling in economy class does not increase your risk for developing a blood clot.” Blood clots deep in the veins of the legs are called deep vein thrombosis or DVT for short. They can travel to the lungs and cause life threatening pulmonary embolism.
Although the new guidelines say that long-distance economy class flights do not pose a risk, immobility does. So, travelers are urged to get up regularly and walk around. Window seats should be avoided because they make it harder to get up frequently and stretch legs. Compression stockings may also be helpful.