Worldwide, up to 30% of women and men have varicose veins — those twisty, bulgy ropes of blue and purple that mar your legs. Most of the time, varicose veins are merely a cosmetic problem, though their appearance alone may cause you distress.
However, all varicose veins — whether they bother you or not — are diseased veins that interfere with optimal cardiovascular circulation. When you’re on a long-haul flight, your legs are often immobile for hours at a time. That could be a problem with varicose veins, especially if they cause you problems such as pain and swelling.
In fact, a long-haul flight raises your risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE) from 1.5-4 times. Dangerous blood clots are rare, but they’re more likely to occur the longer the flight is.
At Laurelton Heart Specialists, we take your varicose veins seriously, whether you view them primarily as a cosmetic issue or have already experienced uncomfortable symptoms, such as painful or swollen legs. Our expert cardiologist, Dr. Ola Akinboboye, evaluates your varicose veins at our office in Rosedale, Queens, New York.
Will your varicose veins put you at risk during a long-haul flight?
Flying with varicose veins is considered a risk factor for deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a type of blood clot that forms in large veins. If you develop a blood clot, part of it could break away and clog an artery in the lung, causing a pulmonary embolism.
Other conditions and lifestyle choices can also increase your risk for DVT when you fly. Consider carefully if you have varicose veins and risks such as:
If your risk factors concern you, we can remove your varicose veins before you travel if you plan ahead. Removing those diseased veins improves circulation throughout your entire body, including your legs, which reduces your risk of developing a DVT.
If you don’t have other risk factors for DVT, you might consider flying with varicose veins if you’re sure that you can get up and move regularly during your flight. The combination of the increased air pressure in airline cabins with immobility increases your risk for blood clots, even if you don’t have varicose veins.
You can exercise your legs when you’re seated by raising and lowering your heels while keeping your toes on the floor. Then, do the opposite: Raise and lower your toes with your heels on the floor.
Whenever possible, stand up every hour or two to walk along the aisle. Use this time to visit the restroom or the area where flight attendants gather. Do some light stretches to improve blood circulation in your legs.
Compression stockings help keep your blood flowing up from your feet by squeezing your ankles. The compression decreases as the sock or stocking progresses further up your leg.
Compression socks also stimulate your calf muscles when you move, giving your circulation a boost. While the evidence on whether they’re necessary or helpful in most cases is scant, they do lower the risk of blood clots in those who’ve had surgery.
You may also feel more comfortable with compression socks. However, please check with Dr. Akinboboye to ensure they’re safe for you to use. However, don’t let wearing compression socks keep you in your seat: You still need to exercise and move your legs.
Long flights are extremely dehydrating due to the dry air in the cabin. More than ever, it’s important to stay hydrated — even if you don’t have varicose veins.
Bring a refillable water bottle to the airport so you can fill it with fresh, filtered water at a water station after passing security. Other healthy hydration choices include eating fruits and vegetables, drinking non-sugary beverages, such as coffee, tea, and water infusions.
A bonus to staying hydrated is that you need to urinate more frequently. That gives you just the excuse you need to get up and take a walk.
If you’re worried about traveling long distances with varicose veins, you can make the decision to permanently remove them. Please let us know your travel plans, and we will schedule your treatment and recovery times to ensure you're ready for your long-haul flight, free from varicose veins.
Contact our helpful and knowledgeable team at 718-208-4816 or use our online outreach form to receive the care you need for your varicose veins today.
