Why does my body swell when I travel by car?

Swollen legs, feet or hands This is particularly common with air travel, or any other mode of transportation that forces you to sit still for long periods of time. Our bodies are designed to move to help blood flow, so when you stop moving during a long flight, your blood tends to pool in your legs.



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The same can be said for long car rides. The easiest way to prevent swollen feet during travel, is to move around to get your blood flowing. When you're sitting, the muscles that help pump fluid out of your legs are not active. This can lead to blood pooling in your feet and uncomfortable 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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Why Does Swelling Happen When You Travel? Swelling, also called edema, happens when fluids in the body pool in certain areas, causing them to become temporarily larger. Sometimes swelling is mild and may go away on it's own in a few hours.

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