Global Business & Innovation Executive | Chair, Design for Good | Former McKinsey Partner
Friendly advice to my fellow frequent flyers. Flying right now? Drink water, get up... and wear the silly socks! I thought deep vein thrombosis was only a risk for older people or those with existing conditions or family predispositions. But it turns out anyone can develop a blood clot on a long flight. I got my first one on a recent London to Arizona business flight, where I didn’t get up and move enough. I have been very fortunate, had fabulous support, and thought it might be helpful to share answers to three questions that I did not know before. 1. What are the symptoms? In my case it felt like I had a sports cramp in my left calf, which developed after the flight and did not clear after five days. Noticeable but not painful. 2. Is it serious? The explanation I received was that a clot in your calf in itself is not dangerous, but the danger is it can dislodge and move around the body and cause much more serious conditions like a pulmonary embolism. 3. How do you get better? Take blood thinners for 6-12 weeks to stop the clot getting bigger, while your body breaks it down. No flying for a couple of weeks. Drink lots of water. And wear fabulous socks. Further advice can be found here. Safe and happy travels! https://lnkd.in/eP8uUPiU
Dawn Turley
3mo
totally agree. I got DVT from travelling and unfortunately it did move and I had a pulmonary embolism. - Nearly died but thanks to some amazing doctors and nurses and life saving thrombolysis drugs. I've lived to tell the tale. Any travel now - long car trips, even short flights I always wear the pressure socks. And yes on long flights - move around and keep hydrated.
That is indeed very good advice. Even better it is, however, to reduce air travel. Better for your health, you have more time, you can be more outside, you save money for your client that they can spend on valuable time with you, and it helps to reduce climate change! Airlines and airports in the way they currently operate are just so anachronistic. Besides the clot, how have you been, Ben?
Balazs Fitz
3mo
I had one of my family members developing pulmonary embolism. I asked them afterwards if they were sitting still for long periods of time. They were out of job and sitting at the computer (and smoking, of course) for 10-12 hours a day. So, apparently, while flying promotes this, it’s not even a precondition… (Smoking doesn’t help either, I suppose.)
Vivian Gomes
3mo
Glad to know you're well Ben. I have a month long criss cross travel, this is timely. Thank you. To remember this important advice, I d suggest a memory line by "King Julian" (though funny)," I like to move it move it" at least , it's a reminder to move .
Daniela Jorge
3mo
I'm so glad they caught it and that you're on the mend
Jason Wild
3mo
Wow, happy to hear you're doing okay. Yes, scary stuff. A 31 year old frequent traveler sadly passed from a clot after a trip to Colombia. Great advice for all of us.
Brian J Ford
3mo
People die from DVTs in droves - but they do it a few days after the flight, so nobody blames the airlines. They should. No socks? No boarding ...
Deborah Dawton
3mo
Had no idea - thanks for the heads up Ben. Trust the bus across London to The Design Effect https://www.dba.org.uk/events_and_training/the-design-effect/ next month is without event.
Administrator with 15 years of experience in both the public and private sectors, with a focus on efficiency and streamlining of work processes.
3moAny sitting for long periods, even at work if your working on a desk based project and likely tohyper focus ans be there for hours ( we can all easily do it)....consider the silly socks - and of course get up and move when you can. I had my 1st dvt after surgery, and subsequent one when I went back to work, due to my uncomfortable and unsupportive office chair exacerbating a yet undiagnosed clotting condition. Warfarin for life now.