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Travelers and Poor Blood Circulation

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Is there a simple solution to a very serious medical problem?For many travelers, the answer is maybe. If travelers would takethe necessary steps, it could help prevent Deep Vein Thrombosis(DVT). The main reason they don't is because not everybody knowswhat DVT is, and they do not know what to do that might helpprevent it. If they have some knowledge about DVT, they probablyhave the attitude that "It can't happen to me." Let's start with the basics. Poor Blood Circulation is a lack ofblood flow to the organs and muscles in the body. Blood is whatcarries the oxygen and nutrients to all organs and muscles inyour body. We need both to survive and function. Also, blood issuppose to cleanse the body from the carbon dioxide and thewastes produced. Poor blood circulation means a shortage ofdelivery of oxygen and nutrients throughout your body and ahighly ineffective cleansing process. It indicates on the Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) website atdvt.net that: "Deep Vein Thrombosis, or DVT is a blood clot thatcan form in your legs and sometimes move to your lungs, where itcould be fatal."..."DVT is a condition resulting from theformation of a blood clot (thrombus) inside a deep vein,commonly located in the calf or thigh. DVT occurs when the bloodclot either partially or completely blocks the flow of blood inthe vein. Complications from DVT kill up to 200,000 people ayear in the United States which is more than AIDS and breastcancer combined!" Also on the DVT website there is a special warning specificallyfor Travelers. It states: "Prolonged sitting during air travels slows down circulation andincreases the blood's propensity to clot. In addition, tightlypacked seating and long periods of immobility can contribute toan increased risk of DVT. Even in young, healthy travelers, long stretches of time spentin cramped seats of an aircraft with very low humidity may setthe stage for the formation of a blood clot in the lower leg." When you are traveling in a car, it is pretty easy to just stopregularly at the Rest Stops to get out, stretch, walk or run fora while. Trains and buses usually have a little more individualspace to move around than on commercial airlines where mostpeople fly coach. That is why it is sometimes referred to as"economy class syndrome" which is misleading terminology becauseit implies that people who fly in first class with a little moreleg room do not have anything to worry about. That is not true.Conditions in an airplane make the risk of DVT greater than incars, trains and buses because a thrombus (blood clot) is morelikely to happen in a condition when blood is thick. This is theside effect of the thin air inside the aircraft cabin. But whatever your choice of transportation, do not just "plant"yourself in the seat and then sit there for several hours in thesame position without moving at all. The exact cause of DVT isnot very clear, but prolonged immobility and dehydration canincrease the risk. Eventhough you may be squeezed in and confined in very tightarea you need to do the best that you can, as much as you can,for as long as you can, to keep your blood circulating. These are some suggestions that might help you: 1. You should drink a sufficient amount of water everyday. (notjust when you are traveling, but everyday) Carry some


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of yourown drinking water with you. 2. Avoid high consumption of alcoholic beverages and caffeinedrinks like coffee and tea. Air in a plane is very dry and thetemperature is warmer than you may normally have it at home. Itis therefore important to remain hydrated during long flights byincreasing your intake of water and fruit juices. 3. If you know that your traveling will involve you sitting fora long period of time in a tight, crammed area like an airplane,then just before and right after your trip do some type ofaerobic exercise like swimming, running, fast walking, cyclingor rowing. 4. Wear loose fitting comfortable clothes when traveling. Evenif you are required to dress in professional business clothes,both men and women should avoid wearing tight fitting businesssuits. Between the local clothing stores in your area, catalogshopping by mail order and the internet, with a little effort onyour part, you can find loose comfortable clothes made with sometype stretch material that will make you look professional andalso qualify as appropriate business attire, but mostimportantly it will allow you to have better blood circulation. Because of the change in atmospheric pressure in an airplane,parts of your body can expand due to increase gas, so you shouldallow room for this type of expansion by wearing loose fittingclothes. 5. During the flight stand up and stretch, stand on one leg andshake the other one vigorously and then vice versa, raise yourarms over your head up and down a few times, take off yourshoes, squeeze and release your toes a few times, do whateveryou can, as much as you can, for as long as you can to move yourbody around, especially your arms and legs. If possible walkdown the aisle even if only once during a long flight. At thevery least, if you really cannot stand up at all for whateverreason, then from your sitting position raise and lower yourlegs and arms a few times and shake both of your feet. 6. Do not cross your legs because it restricts the blood flow. 7. There are 2 things that you should ask your doctor about:First is to ask your doctor if you should wear support stockingsthat are specifically made for the purpose of better bloodcirculation. The second is to also ask your doctor if you shouldtake aspirin for thinning your blood. These 2 suggestions maynot be appropriate for everybody, so it is better that you checkwith your medical professional. These suggestions cannot cure DVT if you already have it, andmany people who have DVT do not even know it because thesymptoms are sometimes difficult to detect. There is noguarantee that any of these suggestions will prevent DVT. So ifyou have any symptoms of pain, stiffness, numbness, tingling,swelling, skin color turning blue or purple, then ask yourdoctor as soon as possible because it might be a result of PoorBlood Circulation. You should get professional medical attentionearly before your condition gets any worse. Remember, thecomplications from DVT could be fatal. About the author: Stephanie Gibbs created http://www.travelcheaphotline.com toeducate people about Travel Safety for crime prevention andprovide solutions with a FREE Travel Safety List available to beprinted right off the website. It also promotes fun & amazingoffers for people with low limited budgets.

Written by: Stephanie Gibbs

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