It is that time of the year again! The holiday season is upon us! Many of you will begin making your travel plans to visit with family and friends. We just wanted to remind you of the dangers of deep vein thrombosis while traveling. It is something that is avoidable and we encourage you to take the necessary precautions.

While traveling long distances, a blood clot can form in your legs. A blood clot is a mass of coagulated blood. This blood clot can break away and travel through your veins up to your lungs. Some signs of a blood clot are:

• Pain or tightness in your legs
• Skin of your leg or arm is warm to the touch.
• Swelling of the extremity
• Skin color has a blue or red discoloration to it

Sitting for long periods of time, as you do while traveling, is a major risk factor. In fact, traveling for longer than four hours at one time greatly increases your risk of blood clot formation. Here are some tips on traveling:

• Wherever you may be, flex and point your feet. This engages the calf muscles, which help to pump blood back to your heart. This stimulates blood movement.

• Stand or walk as often as you can. If you are on a long flight, try to get up to go to the restroom or fiddle with your bag in the overhead bin. Anything that you can do to stand up and move.

• If you are not able to stand up, then bring your knee towards your chest to stimulate the flow of blood in your legs.

The danger of deep vein thrombosis is a real threat during traveling. When blood clots break away, you can experience a pulmonary embolism. Pulmonary embolisms happen when the clot reaches your lungs, which can be fatal. This is why taking precautions while traveling is so important.

If you feel like you have deep vein thrombosis, go to the nearest emergency room for evaluation. Contact Tampa Cardiovascular Associates are available for appointments and can diagnose blood clots and other venous diseases such as varicose veins, spider veins, and venous insufficiency. Call today to schedule an appointment at 813-975-2800 or visit us online at TampaCardio.com.