Long-distance flights can put you at risk of DVT, say docs

Taking long-distance flights can put you at risk of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in your legs, say doctors.
"The number of people taking long distance flight is increasing in India which is putting more people at risk of DVT. Long distance flights increases the risk by three times," vascular surgeon Dr Amitabha Chakrabarti of Rabindranath Tagore International Institute of Cardiac Sciences (RTIICS) told reporters here.
Explaining the reason, he said, while flying our legs are in an anti-gravity position which decreases the flow of blood.
"Symptoms like pain in the calf or swelling may appear upto eight weeks after taking the flight," the doctor said adding that women who have delivered a baby in the last six weeks, those had a chemotherapy or any surgery recently are at a higher risk.

"Many times patients start suffering from DVT during their stay in hospital beds. This can also happen after long road journeys," Dr Chakrabarti said.
He recommends that patients should take short walks during long flights, drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol.
Endovascular specialist Dr Shuvro H Roy Choudhury of the hospital said together with Dr Chakrabarti they had launched a 'Stride' clinic in the hospital where treatment of all issues related to the arteries and veins could be done in one place.