Foot swelling during air travel A concern - Mayo Clinic
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Products and services What causes leg and foot swelling during air travel
Answer From Sheldon G. Sheps, M.D. Leg and foot swelling during air travel is common and typically harmless. The most likely culprit is inactivity during a flight. 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. To relieve foot swelling during a flight: Wear loosefitting clothing Take a short walk every hour or so Flex and extend your ankles and knees frequently while you're seated Flex your calf muscles Shift your position in your seat as much as possible, being careful to avoid crossing your legs Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration Avoid alcohol and sedatives, which could make you too sleepy or unsteady to walk around the cabin Foot swelling isn't a serious problem if it lasts only a short time. But excessive swelling that persists for several hours after you resume activity may be due to a more serious condition, such as a blood clot in the leg (deep vein thrombosis). If you have swelling in only one leg and also have leg pain, seek prompt medical care. If you're at increased risk of blood clots, talk with your health care provider before flying. You may be at increased risk of blood clots if you recently had major surgery or you take birth control pills, for example. Your provider may recommend wearing compression stockings during your flight. In some cases, your provider may prescribe a blood-thinning medication to be taken before departure. With Sheldon G. Sheps, M.D. There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Review/update the information highlighted below and resubmit the form. From Mayo Clinic to your inbox
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Please, try again in a couple of minutes Retry Hand swelling during exercise: A concern? ShareTweet Oct. 15, 2021 Show references Bauer KA, et al. Overview of the causes of venous thrombosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed Sept. 7, 2016. Pai M, et al. Prevention of venous thromboembolism in adult travelers. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed Sept. 7, 2016. Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/dvt. Accessed Sept. 7, 2016. Goldman L, et al., eds. Approach to the patient before and after travel. In: Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 25th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2016. http://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Sept. 7, 2016. AskMayoExpert. Health considerations for air travelers. Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2016. Johnston RV, et al. Travelers' thrombosis. Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine. 2014;85:191. Sterns RH. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of edema in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed Sept. 8, 2016. See more Expert Answers Products and Services
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