| Barney Drummond The actual act of travel today, though it may get you relatively quickly from one place to another, usually requires a great amount of inactivity on your part. Whether it's long waits in an airport, being strapped in a narrow airplane seat for hours, or passively sitting in a car watching the miles go by, modern travel requires very little physical activity. And that can present a health risk for many people.
The problem is commonly called "economy class syndrome." Although named for the cramped seating space available in economy class on most airplanes, it isn't a health issue confined to only airplane travel. The lack of movement as you sit on long trips, whether in a plane, a car, a bus or train, encourages the pooling of blood in your legs. In some cases that can also lead to the formation of blood clots in the veins of your leg. To a traveler on a long airplane flight it might just seem like a cramp in the calf muscle, but it actually might be a blood clot.
In most cases such clots present no danger, with the clot dissolving and the pain disappearing once you're up and walking around again. But in some cases a portion of the clot may break off before it is able to dissolve, with that clot traveling through the circulatory system to the lungs where it can lodge as a pulmonary embolism. Such embolisms may only cause minor pain and shortness of breath in people, or they may become a much more serious health problem, blocking a pulmonary artery and leading to heart complications and possibly death.
While that all adds up to a lot of bad news, the good news is that such clots and embolisms are usually easy to avoid. On long airplane flights for example, simply getting up and taking a short walk up and down the aisle will help minimize the risk for such problems. So will doing some simple leg stretches and ankle rotations as you sit in your seat. Such activity stimulates the leg muscles, helping them to better pump the blood through the veins of your leg and avoid the pooling of blood that might otherwise occur.
Similar activity can also help prevent leg problems on long car trips. Instead of driving for long periods of time, make it a habit to stop every hour or two for a short break. Take that opportunity to get out, stretch, and take a short walk. That not only can help you avoid possible blood clots, but will also help keep you more alert and focused on your driving when you get back on the road.
Other suggestions that help minimize the risk of economy class syndrome include wearing loose fitting clothing, drinking plenty of fluids, avoiding alcohol and caffeine and taking the time to massage your legs and feet periodically to help stimulate circulation.
An important tool to help fight economy class syndrome, no matter your mode of travel, is a good pair of compression travel socks. Available today in a variety of styles and colors, these support socks are a stylish way to provide graduated pressure that helps discourage the pooling of blood in your legs during periods of inactivity. The gentle pressure of support stockings assists the natural movement of the blood in your legs back up to your heart. Combine the use of travel socks with regular activity for your legs and feet as you travel and you'll be doing a great deal to minimize your risk for travel-related leg problems. And planning ahead in this case simply means remembering to order several pair of travel socks before you leave on your next trip. |
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