If you travel a lot and for a long time, you’re probably familiar with that feeling of heaviness and congestion in your legs. It’s not just unpleasant, it can even be dangerous, as in the case of traveler’s thrombosis, also known as “economy class syndrome”. Prolonged sitting in tight clothing, bent legs and lack of exercise during a trip, especially for people in a high-risk group, can be dangerous. Fluid can accumulate in the legs and impede blood reflux. In rare cases, a blood clot may form on the wall of a vein, blocking the vessels: this is known as thrombus formation. The risk group for traveler’s thrombosis includes people of a certain age, overweight or obese people, people who have had a thrombosis or embolism, pregnant women, patients with varicose veins or other venous diseases, and people with a genetic coagulation defect. It is recommended that all men and women wear compression stockings during long journeys, as they relieve pressure on the veins and can also prevent fluid build-up.
A simple compression sock (or hock stocking) can already be very beneficial. It’s also advisable to get up and move around a lot, and to drink enough during your journey.
