5 tips for avoiding blood clots while traveling

Yesterday I woke up with a pain in my left calf and headed to the emergency room.

What does this have to do with travel, you might ask. Back in 1999, after a run-of-the-mill road trip and plane flight, I was diagnosed with a deep vein thrombosis or DVT – essentially a blood clot. In Britain, it’s known as Long Haul syndrome.

None of the doctors could tell me why I got it, as I have no pre-existing conditions or family history. All I know is what felt like a muscle cramp ended up putting me in the hospital for more than 10 days with a heparin drip and a six month regimen of blood thinners.

So when I felt a similar pain in my leg yesterday, I started to worry. After all, I had spent much of the past week sitting in a car, driving through Arizona desert. And then there was that seven-hour layover where I mostly sat, staring at my computer screen. Needless to say, I was a little panicked.

It turned out I didn’t have a clot. But the experience reminded me that I need to continue to do the following when I travel:

1. Stop the car and walk often. There’s no substitute to moving around so blood doesn’t pool in your legs.

2. Stretch your legs when flying. Lately, I’ve been able to score exit rows so I haven’t been as aggressive about walking the aisles. I should be. Again, the point is to keep the blood moving.

3. Take a baby aspirin when traveling. My medical history requires me to take a baby aspirin every day. In general, aspirin helps with vascular and cardio help.

4. Pack compression stockings to wear on the plane. Ok, ok, they certainly aren’t fashionable. But I generally do try to wear them on longer flights to increase blood flow to the lower legs. Loose clothing also helps.

5. Stay hydrated. Dehydration can lead to blood thickening – which can lead to clots. At the very least, chugging down water will make you get up to use the bathroom, so you’re moving around.