Can long haul flights cause blood clots?
Can long haul flights cause blood clots? Blood clots can sometimes form in your legs during air travel because you are immobile for long periods of time, often sitting in cramped spaces with little leg room. The clinical term for this type of blood clot is deep vein thrombosis (DVT). The longer the flight, the more at risk you are for developing a clot.
Can a 5 hour flight cause a blood clot?
However, anyone traveling more than four hours, whether by air, car, bus, or train, can be at risk for blood clots.
Who is at risk of blood clots when flying?
Most people who develop travel-associated blood clots have one or more other risks for blood clots, such as: Older age (risk increases after age 40) Obesity (body mass index [BMI] greater than 30kg/m2) Recent surgery or injury (within 3 months)
Should you take a blood thinner before a long flight?
Bajakian recommends you talk to your doctor before taking a flight longer than 4 to 6 hours. In some extremely high-risk cases, she may prescribe a course of low-dose anticoagulation medication for travel.
Can you get a blood clot a week after flying?
Symptoms of DVT may be silent or present as a deep pain in one calf or thigh (with swelling). PE may also be silent but symptoms may include sharp chest pain, breathlessness, bloody sputum, and cardiac collapse in some cases. DVT or PE may manifest during or shortly after the flight, but often not for several weeks.
Are blood clots common on long flights?
Even if you travel a long distance, the risk of developing a blood clot is generally very small. Your level of risk depends on the duration of travel as well as whether you have any other risks for blood clots.
Does aspirin prevent blood clots when flying?
Talk to your doctor about wearing compression stockings or taking medicine before departure if you have additional risk factors for blood clots. Taking aspirin to prevent blood clots when traveling is not recommended.