Unnoticed Thrombosis
Whether by plane, train or bus: sitting for hours wedged into a narrow seat can be risky for some travelers.
How to protect yourself from a thrombosis and who is at risk.
While on a long journey, you usually spend many hours on the plane or in a bus. This is not only uncomfortable but also may be dangerous as the blood in the legs thickens - usually in the deep veins. It builds up and can form a clot, called thrombosis
The clotting, which actually serves to heal wounds with endogenous resources, comes at a point in transition, where it is not useful, but becomes harmful. The blood clots that often form in the veins of the legs and grow there into a kind of graft, which can be threat to life.
Causes
There could be several causes: The main risk factor for thrombosis is the age. From age 60, the probability of developing thrombosis increases significantly.
An increased risk of thrombosis is also found with people having varicose veins, a heart or lung disease, smokers and those who are obese. Long trips increase the risk of thrombosis
At risk are also people, who have undergone surgery recently. Hormonal changes, for example during pregnancy or with birth control pills, cause the blood clot more easily.
If already there is a risk of thrombosis, then long trips by bus or plane can be dangerous because, sitting for a long time with your knees bent will cause reduced blood circulation .
Solutions
Who ever belongs to the risk group, should first consult his doctor to find a sensible precaution.
Make your legs move occasionally or wiggle the toes, ease your calf muscles. When muscles work, it will help relaxing the veins to carry blood against gravity and back to the heart.
Aspirin has almost no effect on the veins
Inside the blood vessels venous valves ensure that nothing flows back. If you drink a lot of water, it will make your blood lighter. Alcohol should be avoided, as it expands the vessels. The consequence: The blood sags in the veins.
Patients who are already having a risk of thrombosis, while on a long haul on the plane or bus, it is precautionary to carry / wear compression stockings and have preventive medicines. This should not be done on your own, but after consulting your physician.
Risks
One third of patients suffer from pulmonary embolism due to thrombosis
Typical symptoms of thrombosis include swelling on the ankle or the legs, the calf can hurt like a muscle ache. Sometimes the skin gets discolored into red or blue. The signs are often ambiguous which many people do not even notice.
Another evidence of the dangerous vascular disease may be persistent back pain. Whoever experience this symptom for a prolonged time should immediately consult his doctor.
If the situation has gone untreated .then thrombosis can turn out to be a potential time bomb. According to Vascular Physicians, about one third of patients with deep vein thrombosis had suffered a pulmonary embolism. With early diagnosis, the patient can be administered with a blood thinner medication, which reduces the clot.
The first goal of treatment of thrombosis is therefore to prevent the blood clots. This reduces the risk of embolism.
Protective medicines and compression stockings
Treatment often takes place over several months to get complete results. For a while the body tries to break down the blood clot, the risk of recurrent thrombosis remains high. The active ingredients of drugs is to thin the blood. It is therefore important individually tailored dosage so as to avoid unwanted and possibly dangerous bleeding in the body.
Wear compression stockings regularly and to take medication, is the best protection against relapse.