Deep Venous Thrombosis
Alternate Names : DVT, Economy Class Syndrome
What can be done to prevent the condition?
DVT cannot always be prevented. Some helpful measures include:
avoiding illegal drugs
avoiding long periods of inactivity
eating a healthy diet to prevent
heart disease
exercising appropriately during
pregnancy and the postpartum period
following sports safety guidelines for children,
adolescents, and
adults
maintaining appropriate levels of physical activity
practicing appropriate weight
management
Although the research is still inconclusive about the effects of airplane trips
and other forms of travel on DVT, people can lower their risk of DVT by taking
these steps:
Avoid alcohol or
sleeping pills before or during the flight.
Avoid long periods of sleep during the flight.
Do seat exercises, such as ankle rolls and toe pointing.
Drink plenty of fluids to avoid
dehydration.
Get up and move about periodically.
Limit carry-on luggage so there is plenty of legroom.
Obtain a seat with as much legroom as possible, such as in the first class
cabin, on an aisle, or in back of a bulkhead.
Talk with your healthcare provider about taking aspirin for its
blood-thinning properties.
Walk around the concourse before and between flights.
Wear loose, comfortable clothing and avoid tight stockings.
Blood-thinning medicines can help prevent DVT. These include heparin,
enoxaparin, and warfarin. Compression stockings can also be used to improve the
flow of blood through the veins back up to the heart.
A recent large-scale study in Canada looked at DVT in individuals 65
years or older. The study found that statins, which are medicines used to lower
cholesterol, decreased the
risk of DVT by 22% in this group. While further study is recommended, the
findings are encouraging.
What are the long-term effects of the condition?
Most patients will recover from an episode of deep venous thrombosis without
long-term problems. People who have had DVT have a higher risk of getting it
again. The most serious risk of DVT is a pulmonary embolus. This is
a piece of the blood clot that breaks off and travels to the lung. A blood clot
in the lung can cause death.
DVT may also cause chronic pain and swelling of the affected leg. There are
rare cases of a
stroke resulting from a DVT.
What are the risks to others?
A deep venous thrombosis is not contagious and poses no risk to others.
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