Varicose veins or Swollen feet
Sitting anywhere for long periods of time can make your feet and ankles swell and your legs cramp. This is due to pooling of blood in the legs, which in turn cause swelling, stiffness and discomfort. IF traveling by road, make sure you take frequent breaks for few minutes and stretch yourself and walk around. If traveling by air, take off your shoes and elevate your legs by resting your feet on your carry-on luggage under the seat in front of you.
Wear comfortable shoes with expandable elastic panels or adjustable straps to avoid swelling of your feet. IF on a long journey try to stroll the aisle every hour to keep your blood circulating and do some simple stretches every half hour. If you're sitting or standing, stretch your leg, heel first, and gently flex your foot to stretch your calf muscles. Rotate your ankles and wiggle your toes. If you find an empty seat next to you on a plane, train, or bus, put your feet up.
Deep Vein Thrombosis:
Circulatory stasis is a predisposing factor for the development of venous thrombosis (blood clots). It is a condition where blood clots in the deep veins of the legs. Symptoms include pain, swelling and redness in the lower leg. Although the exact cause is not known, prolonged immobility and dehydration can increase the risk of DVT. The clots can break up and travel to the heart, lungs and brain and this can lead to serious medical complications. Other risk factors include hormone therapy (including use of contraceptive pills), pregnancy, smoking, post-surgery, advanced cancer, obesity and hereditary factors.
The risk of developing deep vein thrombosis is very small for travellers unless they have pre-existing additional risk factors for thromboembolism, which include:
Previous history of venous thrombosis
Over 40 years of age
Use of hormone therapy
Pregnancy
Recent surgery or trauma
Cancer
Genetic blood clotting abnormalities
Chronic venous insufficiency (varicose veins)
Risk of tobacco smoking, obesity and varicose veins can be a risk in few cases
Simple behaviors adjustments are required to minimize the condition:
While sitting for long hours, do not sit cross-legged. Stretch your legs forward and relax.
Wear loose clothes while traveling.
Try to avoid high consumption of caffeine and alcoholic beverages that cause dehydration. Increase consumption of water or fruit juices to improve body hydration. Try to stand up ever 30 minutes to stretch arms and legs. IF you are driving try to stop in between and stretch.
Try to do simple regular workouts that will help improve blood circulation. One such exercise is to raise the buttocks and thighs off the seats while seated and at the same time squeezing the toes and contracting the calf muscles. Another exercise is to bend and straighten legs while seated.
Pregnancy puts a strain on circulation, which can leave you susceptible to thrombosis (the formation of blood clots) and varicose veins. Travelling or sitting for long hours increases the risk even more.
It is advised that pregnant women wear maternity support panty hose, which compress the veins to keep blood flowing, and help relieve the swelling and aching in legs.
After arrival at the destination, the effects of the journey can be reduced by gentle exercise to stimulate the circulation.
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