Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) can be a worry for frequent travellers. It occurs when altered blood flow leads to the formation of a blood clot in a deep vein of the leg. Symptoms include a swollen or painful calf or thigh. In uncommon cases, part of the clot moves to the lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism (blocked blood vessel) that, if severe, may cause the affected lung to collapse. DVT isn’t caused only by travelling. Each year, it occurs in between one and three people per 1,000, according to the Department of Health, and, of those, only one in 100 cases is fatal. Nevertheless, frequent travellers may be more at risk than others. Professor Mark Whiteley, a consultant venous surgeon and phlebologist, explains why: “The things that cause clots are the Virchow’s Triad [named after German physician Rudolf Virchow]. These are changes in the blood, changes in the blood flow and changes in the vessel wall. Any one of those can cause a clot.
“When you fly, you have a change in the flow, since you’re just sitting there, so the blood isn’t flowing as it should. You’re up in the air, so you have decreased oxygen and have changed the consistency of the blood. Finally, if you have varicose veins, then the vein wall is stretched and bulbous, allowing blood to clot on this altered vein wall. So when you fly, you’ve got the perfect storm for DVT.”
RISK FACTOR
Our 2019 article on this (see businesstraveller.com/ feature-category/smart-traveller) dealt with some of the practical ways to guard against DVT, such as staying hydrated, moving regularly on the plane and wearing compression socks. The publicity around these measures has probably saved many people who would have suffered from DVT from having serious problems. There’s no doubt, though, that some of us are more at risk than others, and so if you have varicose veins it would be a good idea to see a specialist.
This story is from the November 2020 - January 2021 edition of Business Traveller UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the November 2020 - January 2021 edition of Business Traveller UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills
A highlight is the rooftop pool, which is a tropical oasis for post-meeting R&R
The Peninsula London
The design is all about natural light, greenery and open-plan spaces
Raffles London at The OWO
A stay at Raffles London at The OWO is bucket-list worthy
Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787-9 business class HO CHI MINH CITY-LONDON
The bedding was nice - with pre-attached seat protector plus soft pillow and silky duvet
Royal Air Maroc Boeing 737-800 business class CASABLANCA-LONDON GATWICK
The service was great throughout the flight and the cabin crew were very friendly
Istanbul
Mosques, subterranean reservoirs and waterside attractions in the cosmopolitan Turkish city
Barking mad
Hoteliers worldwide are reaching for their dog bowls to meet the increasing demand of business travellers bringing their pets
BANGKOK RENAISSANCE
Whether it's extended metro lines, the huge number of new hotels or the parks springing up in the heart of the city, Thailand's capital is so much more than a stopover destination
GRAPE EXPECTATIONS
Discover the best wines available in the sky - and why you should avoid bold tannins inflight
RISKY BUSINESS
Business travellers need their wits about them more than ever these days with strategies in place should the worst happen
