During take-off and landing, there are pressure changes that affect the body's circulatory system. This change in blood flow pattern can cause an increased risk of developing blood clots or deep vein thrombosis. On flights it is also common for flight attendants to spend a lot of time on their feet.
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Factors that contribute to the increased risk of travel-related DVT include obesity, extremes of height, use of oral contraceptives and pre-existing blood clotting abnormalities. The absolute risk of DVT in healthy passengers per long-haul flight (more than 4 hours) was found to be about 1 in 6000.
Sitting in roomier first class seats won't lower the risk of developing DVT, but sitting in an aisle seat will, according to the American College of Chest Physicians.
There has been considerable attention focused recently on the risk of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) associated with air travel. Despite the lack of evidence among air travelers, a single dose of aspirin has been widely recommended as a means of preventing such thrombosis.
Take your medications as prescribed“If your doctor has not recommended that you take aspirin daily, it's not suggested that you take it when you travel to prevent blood clots,” Coogan said. “On the other hand, if you do take prescribed blood thinners, you should feel safe traveling.”
Talk to your doctor about wearing compression stockings or taking medicine before departure if you have additional risk factors for blood clots. Taking aspirin to prevent blood clots when traveling is not recommended. If you take aspirin for other reasons, check with your doctor.