lie on their sides with a pillow between the knees if desirable.
Keeping your feet elevated in the evenings while relaxing and while sleeping can help promote healthy circulation which may decrease the risk of deep vein thrombosis – especially if one you suffer from varicose vein disease.
Prolonged Immobility
Sitting or lying down for long periods—due to prolonged bed rest after illness or a long airplane flight, for example—can cause blood to pool in the legs, leading to deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and, worst-case scenario, pulmonary embolism if the clot travels to the lungs.
One of the main causes of DVT is immobility. This is because the blood circulating through the leg veins relies on leg muscle contraction to propel it up the leg. If a person isn't moving their legs and contracting their muscles, their blood flow becomes sluggish and this can result in blood clots forming.
Sleep on your side
Gravity can pull blood down into your legs when you sleep on your back, which can pool there and cause swelling. But when you sleep on your side, blood can flow easily through the legs. This can help to reduce swelling and improve circulation.
lie on their sides with a pillow between the knees if desirable.
Take steps to prevent blood clots. Stand up or walk occasionally. Select an aisle seat when possible so you can walk around every 2-3 hours.
Foods rich in vitamin E, such as almonds, avocado, and spinach, can help dissolve blood clots. Vitamin E has anticoagulant properties and can help prevent blood clots from forming. It is recommended to consume foods rich in vitamin E regularly.
However, anyone traveling more than four hours, whether by air, car, bus, or train, can be at risk for blood clots.
throbbing or cramping pain, swelling, redness and warmth in a leg or arm. sudden breathlessness, sharp chest pain (may be worse when you breathe in) and a cough or coughing up blood.
It's entirely possible that some people will develop small clots through vein obstruction during sleep, and that multiple small clots could affect the lungs, initially without any symptoms. DVTs certainly occur in the few individuals whose popliteal vein becomes blocked while standing.
You can help prevent blood clots if you: Wear loose-fitting clothes, socks, or stockings. Raise your legs 6 inches above your heart from time to time. Wear special stockings (called compression stockings) if your doctor prescribes them.
Stay Hydrated
Dehydration contributes to the development of sluggish blood flow and blood clots. NYU Langone doctors advise drinking 8 to 10 8-ounce glasses of water each day for optimal blood flow. It's especially important to do this when your mobility is limited for long periods, such as while traveling.
Clots can form in any vein and, whilst massage should definitely be avoided around the affected area, it should also be avoided in general until a Doctor advises otherwise. Massage stimulates blood circulation, therefore can dislodge a clot, even if the point of massage is elsewhere on the body.
Anticoagulants, such as heparin or warfarin (also called Coumadin), slow down your body's process of making clots. Antiplatelets, such as aspirin and clopidogrel, prevent blood cells called platelets from clumping together to form a clot. Antiplatelets are mainly taken by people who have had a heart attack or stroke.
Thrombolytic therapy can include the use of medications to destroy blood clots or prevent new blood clots from forming. It's also called fibrinolytic therapy. Some of these clot-busting drugs are taken by mouth.
It takes about 3 to 6 months for a blood clot to go away. During this time, there are things you can do to relieve symptoms. Elevate your leg to reduce swelling. Talk to your doctor about using compression stockings.
Aspirin, a blood thinner, is also used. A class of medications called thrombolytics can dissolve clots even more quickly, but can increase the risk of bleeding. Doctors may also opt to perform surgery to remove the blood clot.
Raise your feet slightly off the floor. With your toes upward, rotate the ankles clockwise slowly and hold for a few seconds then return to starting position and repeat 10 times. After that, rotate the ankles anti-clockwise slowly and hold for a few seconds then return to starting position and repeat 10 times.
Following a DVT, your leg may be swollen, tender, red, or hot to the touch. These symptoms should improve over time, and exercise often helps. Walking and exercise are safe to do, but be sure to listen to your body to avoid overexertion.
According to sleep experts, you should sleep on your side with your knees slightly bent to relieve low back pain. If the position feels uncomfortable, you can put a pillow between your legs, and your neck should have strong support too.
Sleeping on your back with your legs laid straight puts pressure on your lower back, which may result in more back pain over time. By elevating your legs as you sleep, you will take some of the pressure off, relieving your lower spine. You can also improve your spine alignment by raising your legs.
If you sleep on your back, place a pillow under your knees to help maintain the normal curve of your lower back. You might try a small, rolled towel under the small of your back for additional support.