What can increase a person’s risk for developing blood clots during travel?
Dr. Gupta discusses what can increase the risk of blood clots during travel. Click play to watch the video or read the transcript.
In general, a person’s risk for blood clots – even while traveling – is very small, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
However, if you will be traveling for more than three to four hours sitting, and you have other risk factors for blood clots, your risk during travel increases, according to the CDC.
Risk factors that can increase a person’s risk for blood clots during travel, according to the CDC, include:
- Active cancer
- Catheter in a large vein
- Family history of blood clots
- Hormone replacement therapy
- Obesity
- Older age, with risk increasing after 40
- Postpartum period of up to six weeks after birth
- Pregnancy
- Previous blood clots
- Use of contraceptives that contain estrogen
- Varicose veins
Talk to your doctor about what can increase the risk of blood clots during travel.
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