Why do my legs swell on a road trip?

Sitting with your feet on the floor for a long period causes blood to pool in your leg veins. The position of your legs when you are seated also increases pressure in your leg veins. This contributes to foot swelling by causing fluid to leave the blood and move into the surrounding soft tissues.



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Once you've landed, you can use a lot of the same tools to reduce swelling after your travel: ?Stay hydrated, move around, and wear compression socks,? says Wurster. ?Also, be mindful of what you're eating and avoid foods too high in sodium because that can also add to further swelling.?

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Cause: Travel Sitting for long periods on cross-country flights or long road trips can cause water retention. Your muscles contract literally from sitting for too long, said Dr. Mack.

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Gas expands when you go up in altitude, meaning the gas in your tum inflates too. This can cause a distended tum and a pretty uncomfortable bloat. Pairing that with the lack of movement, dehydration and seating position, it can be pretty uncomfortable!

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