A person should avoid flying if they have a newly diagnosed DVT due to the risk of related complications during travel, such as part of it breaking free. Healthcare professionals recommend waiting up to 4 weeks from the start of treatment for DVT before traveling.
Flights lasting 8 to 10 hours or longer pose the greatest risk. In some cases, the DVT will dissolve and go away on its own. However, in more serious cases, it can cause pain, swelling, and warmth of the affected leg, or it can break off and travel to the blood vessels of your lungs, causing pulmonary embolism (PE).
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.”
Blood clots can form in the deep veins (veins below the surface that are not visible through the skin) of your legs during travel because you are sitting still in a confined space for long periods of time. The longer you are immobile, the greater is your risk of developing a blood clot.
Exposure to high altitude (HA), either during air travels, ascension of mountains, or while engaging in sports activities results in hyper coagulability thus predisposing to thromboembolic events. Climbers staying at high altitudes for weeks also possess several risk factors for thromboembolism.
It is important to start treatment right away for DVT. It takes about 3 to 6 months for a blood clot to go away.
Because you are taking a blood thinner, you should try not to hurt yourself and cause bleeding. You need to be careful when you use knives, scissors, razors, or any sharp object that can make you bleed. You also need to avoid activities and sports that could cause injury. Swimming and walking are safe activities.
Use alcohol and barbiturates with caution; their effect is greater at high altitude. People taking anticoagulants (blood thinners) may notice an increased effect and may require prothrombin times (bleeding times) to be checked. Strong di- uretics may cause blood pressure to fall, resulting in fainting or dizziness.
Exercise can help improve blood flow in the body, and this can be particularly helpful in preventing blood clots from forming. Regular exercise can also help in breaking down existing blood clots. Low-impact exercises such as walking, cycling, and swimming are recommended as they are less strenuous on the body.
In such cases, getting up to walk around and get the blood flowing every hour or so is extremely beneficial. For someone who has experienced a DVT, traditional treatments have focused on anticoagulation or medication therapy to thin the blood, combined with bed rest.
Venous thrombosis is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. About 10%–20% of patients develop a recurrence within 5 y [4]–[6], and up to 50% develop post-thrombotic syndrome within several months after the thrombotic event [7]. The mortality rate after venous thrombosis is about 20% within 1 y [2],[8].
Exercise does not speed up clot dissolution. You can immediately resume exercise once pain and swelling improve. Mild to moderate activity after a DVT in the leg will not increase your risk of dislodging the clot to the lungs.
You can have recurrent DVT while on anticoagulation, but your chances go way down. Some studies show about 2% to 5.5% of people with either DVT or PE have a recurrence within the first 3 months of treatment. Ask your doctor about risks and side effects.
Risks and Side Effects of Mixing Blood Thinners and Alcohol
Alcohol affects how well your blood clots, potentially negating the effects of the blood thinners or increasing them to a dangerous level. Further, alcohol can affect how long it takes for your body to process blood thinners.
El-Chami, MD, a heart specialist at Emory Healthcare. While the likelihood of a major bleed from taking an anticoagulant is 2%-3% on average, the risk of stroke is higher. On average, the chance of having a stroke is 5% each year among people with AFib.
As the clot gets worse, you may feel a sensation ranging from a dull ache to intense pain. The pain may throb in your leg, belly, or even arm.
Effect of Stress on Blood Vessels
Research has shown that extended periods of anxiety can increase coagulation, which decreases the normal circulation of blood through the body and raises the risk of developing blot clots.
Blood thinners or anticoagulants are the most common treatment for a blood clot in the lung. It is important to note that blood thinners won't dissolve blood clots. In most cases, the hope is your body will eventually dissolve the clot on its own.
Aside from bleeding-related issues, there are several side effects that have been linked to blood thinners, such as nausea and low counts of cells in your blood. Low blood cell count can cause fatigue, weakness, dizziness and shortness of breath. Be careful mixing medications.