Why travel puts you at risk for blood clots

Traveling to a new destination can be incredibly thrilling. However, lengthy road trips and flights come with the risk of developing blood clots if you don’t take proper precautions.

So, why do blood clots form in the first place?

Blood clots are a natural way to stop bleeding. Your bone marrow uses stem cells to create red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. When a blood vessel is damaged, platelets, also called thrombocytes, are activated. They collect near the damage, forming a plug to prevent blood loss.

Blot clots also form when blood is unable to comfortably flow through the vessels, such as during long travel. This causes platelets to collect and block proper blood flow, referred to as an embolus. This can lead to pain and swelling.

“There is a two- to four-fold increase in blood clots during prolonged travel, especially any trip greater than four hours,” explains Dr. Paul Silverman, a interventional cardiologist at the Advocate Health Care.

You may be most familiar with deep vein thrombosis, a condition where blood flow is obstructed in veins deep beneath your skin, often in your legs. However,  if part or the whole clot becomes dislodged, it can travel through the veins. This can create an obstruction in the lungs and result in damaged tissue that reduces your body’s ability to absorb oxygen into the blood stream. This is known as a pulmonary embolism. This happens in about 3% of every 10,000 Americans each year.

However, the embolus can travel to other locations, even lodging itself in the brain. In these instances, the clot may lead to headaches, seizures or even a stroke. While blood clots in the brain occur in 1 out of every 100,000 people, the risks they pose are severe.

Dr. Silverman says other common risk factors for developing blood clots include:

• Cancer
• Blood clotting disorders
• Trauma
• Recovery from surgery
• Weakness from illness or pain that limits movement

“Everyone, especially those with these conditions, should make a point to stand and walk for at least a short period every three to four hours,” Dr. Silverman says. “I also recommend wearing compression stockings during travel to help improve blood flow.”

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