The low-down on DVT
Words: Laura Potter Illustrations: Tobatron
Spending hours in an aeroplane seat, often not moving and getting dehydrated… Most of us associate long flights with an increased risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Did you know, though, that our weight can play a part, too? ‘Being overweight, inactive, or both, increases the chances of a blood clot developing – and not just when you’re in the air,’ says GP and author Dr Gio Miletto. ‘This is due to the differences in blood circulation that go with being overweight and inactive.’
DVT clots form when a vein – usually in the leg – is damaged, or if blood flow slows or stops. When we’re sitting very still, blood flow automatically slows – that’s why travelling for more than six hours is a risk – and if we’re carrying excess weight, long journeys are even riskier.