Experts: Deep vein thrombosis a risk on bus and train trips too

Experts: Deep vein thrombosis a risk on bus and train trips too TRAVEL NEWS tvnz.co.nz: "Experts: DVT not just a plane risk"



Deadly blood clots are just as likely to form from long-distance train and bus trips as they are from international air travel, experts have warned.
Australian vascular specialists have backed calls by Indian medics to increase understanding around the dangers of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in prolonged land travel.
The medics from India's Government Medical College write in the latest Medical Journal of Australia of a fresh case of a 35-year-old man who developed DVT after a 14-hour train journey in cramped conditions.
"Any journey of more than four hours poses a risk for DVT," Professor Jeet Kashyap wrote, with people who are overweight, pregnant or on the oral contraceptive carrying an even greater risk.
"This case highlights the importance of considering all types of prolonged travel as potential risk factors for DVT."
Robert Lusby, a professor of vascular surgery at the University of Sydney, said the risk of land travel on DVT was poorly understood by Australians.
"Australia is a very big country so the risk posed by DVT, particularly in long distance car and bus travel, is very real," Prof Lusby said.
He said he had treated several cases of DVT caused by long bus trips, "and it's very likely we match India with cases on our trains".
"The risk is there for any travel where you sit for long periods with your knees bent and a lack of movement, which is, of course, the case on most of the bigger trips across our country," Prof Lusby said.
Travel-related DVT, first identified in 1954, is the forming of leg clots caused by poor blood flow into the calf muscle.
Symptoms usually develop between one and eight weeks after a trip.
Professor Lusby said he advises people to stretch their legs wherever possible.
"On car journeys it's important to make the effort to stop and get out every hour or so just to get the blood circulating properly," he said.

Compression socks have style : Local Health : Evansville Courier Press

Compression socks have style

NEW YORK — For students in the fashion program at Parsons The New School of Design, beauty is more than skin deep: They recently staged a full-on runway show, complete with celebrity models, to draw attention to deep-vein thrombosis.

They weren't working on coming up with the sexiest, most fashion-forward items. They weren't even really going for fashion.

Instead their show was a competition to see who could create the funkest, eye-catching sock.
Yes, a sock.
With dozens of ribbon colors and rubber wrist-band styles already taken in the name of dozens of worthy causes, those looking to garner support and publicity for their issues now find they need to look to novel concepts.
And just finding a cool symbol isn't good enough. It also needs to be easily transferrable to a wide range of products and different kinds of marketing media, making it truly identifiable in a single glance.
Working with the Coalition to Prevent DVT, Parsons students tackled socks because wearing compression socks can prevent deadly blood clots from forming in the legs, says Melanie Bloom, coalition spokeswoman, and wife of NBC newsman David Bloom, who died of a DVT-induced pulmonary embolism while covering the Iraq War in 2003.

Get in Step With Summer Foot Care - US News and World Report

Get in Step With Summer Foot Care - US News and World Report:

"Myth: Flats, flip-flops and going barefoot are good for your feet.
Fact: 'This is a common misconception, because we always hear about the problems with high heels,' Vlahovic said in a prepared statement. 'But these three present their own types of problems.' Flip-flops provide no support, which can cause plantar fasciitis, ankle sprains and tendonitis. Wearing flats can lead to severe heel pain and blisters, crowding toes and conditions such as hammertoes and bunions. Walking barefoot leaves feet open to cuts, scrapes, bruises, and puncture wounds along with skin issues or nail injuries."

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Can Your Socks Make You Faster?

Joe Friel's Blog: Can Your Socks Make You Faster?: "This was the Year of the Compression Sock at the Hawaii Ironman. In past years they were evident, but this year they seemed to be every where. The accompanying picture of these elastic stockings was taken in Kona on race day. The users say they improve their performance by…

* improving venous return to the heart,
* preventing muscles from moving unnecessarily as with excess vibration meaning less fatigue, and
* speeding recovery.

They also claim that wearing them on long flights as when going to Hawaii reduces leg and foot swelling due to fluids pooling in legs.

Elastic compression stockings have been around for a long time and used in the treatment of several leg conditions such as blood clotting in deep veins (“thrombosis”) and faulty valves in the veins with weakened vein walls (“varicose veins”). The research generally supports their use for such injuries, but do they improve athletic performance such as the claims made above?"

DVT because of inactivity?

Terry's Tidbits: My Wake Up Call

Possibly my week of watching college basketball was not very good for me, although I am on my feet all day while at work. I am not the most active person when away from work and I will be the first to admit that I am overweight. I don’t recall injuring my leg; however I am always bumping it against something at home or at work. My dad also has a history of blood clots that started when he was about my age. I suppose the cause for my blood clot could be any combination of these.

The blood clot should dissolve on its own. There are things I can do to lessen my chances or to prevent another blood clot. Now, I will probably wearing support stockings or compression socks for the rest of my life. I will also be taking blood thinners such as coumadin or warfarin. My other big lifestyle change will include walking regularly to get exercise and stimulate circulation.

Vital Signs - Risks - Study Ties Dirty Air to Blood Clots in Legs - NYTimes.com

Vital Signs - Risks - Study Ties Dirty Air to Blood Clots in Legs - NYTimes.com: "Exposure to air pollution increases the risk for deep vein thrombosis, the blood clots that commonly occur in the leg veins. And the worse the air pollution, the higher the risk."