Holiday travel is expected to reach an all-time high this season. If you plan to travel and you have peripheral artery disease (PAD), you need to know that you may face some health risks.
Having PAD doesn’t mean you must avoid traveling. But it does mean you should take a few extra precautions.
At Memphis Vein Center, Kishore K. Arcot, MD, FACC, specializes in diagnosing and treating vascular diseases like PAD. After evaluating the severity of your PAD, he can make personalized recommendations to ensure you can travel safely, minimize risks, and enjoy the holidays.
The most challenging problem with traveling is the time you spend sitting. When you sit, the pressure in your legs increases. You also stop using your leg muscles, which means they stop pushing blood through your legs.
As a result, circulation in your legs slows down. Sluggish blood flow leads to thickened blood, the top risk factor for developing blood clots.
Prolonged sitting raises the chance of a blood clot in people who don’t have vascular disease. The risk significantly rises if you have PAD, because the fatty plaque already blocks your blood flow and sitting adds to the problem.
Developing a blood clot in a deep leg vein (deep vein thrombosis) is the most dangerous result of prolonged sitting and slow blood flow.
Anyone who sits too long can end up with deep vein thrombosis. Having severe PAD increases the risk. Though PAD affects leg arteries, it also makes you more likely to develop a blood clot in your veins (venous thromboembolism).
If a deep vein clot breaks free, the pieces can travel through your blood vessels, reach your lungs, and stop blood flow in the lung’s artery (pulmonary embolism). Pulmonary embolism is a life-threatening condition.
The longer you sit without moving, the greater your risk for circulation problems. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people traveling for four hours or longer can develop blood clots.
If you have PAD, it’s crucial to talk with Dr. Arcot. He can define your risk based on the severity of your vascular disease. People with severe PAD may have a higher chance of clotting if they travel 1-3 hours.
Following these tips will help you avoid vascular problems when traveling with PAD:
Walk whenever possible. Most people should walk at least once every 1-2 hours. People with PAD may need to move more frequently to promote circulation and prevent complications.
Walking is easier on planes, buses, or trains because you can stroll up and down the aisles. You may not want to stop the car and lengthen your trip, but a brief stop to get out and walk may be essential if you have PAD.
Moving your legs while sitting boosts circulation. Frequently stretch your legs or lift your legs toward your chest. Rotate your ankles and move your feet up and down. Any movement works the muscles and improves blood flow.
It helps if you don’t put luggage or packages under the seat in front of you because you’ll have more room for your legs. Or you can put a briefcase or pillow in that space and use it as a footrest. Lifting your feet reduces the pressure on your thighs, which helps circulation.
Clothes that are tight around your legs and waist put additional pressure on blood flow. Also, don’t wear compression stockings unless Dr. Arcot recommends them.
Drink plenty of fluids, preferably water. Staying hydrated helps prevent blood from thickening.
Talk with us before traveling if you have PAD or you’re worried about signs of PAD, like leg pain when walking or leg weakness. Schedule a consultation by reaching out online or calling our Memphis, Tennessee, office.
