With Memorial Day just around the corner, many families will hit the road for summer vacation. Wherever your travels take you there are a few things to be aware of as you pack your bags.
Little-known health warning
Health officials are warning long car rides or plane trips can lead to a dangerous blood clot condition. When you’re body sits for long periods of time the blood in your system slows down. It can create blood clots in the legs or thighs and cause a condition called deep vein thrombosis, or DVT.
“DVT is very dangerous and can do severe damage to a person’s body and if the clot breaks off and travels to the lung, it can be fatal,” says Dr. Sandra Schneider, president of the American College of Emergency Physicians in a press release. A clot in the lung creates a condition known as a pulmonary embolism. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, up to 600,000 Americans have DVT .
The solution is relatively simple, get up and move around. Doctors say travelers should stretch their legs often to prevent DVT.
Travel guide
Another healthy travel tip if you’re headed overseas is to check out a travel book published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ‘The Yellow Book’ as its nicknamed, provides travel recommendations and other features that help international travelers prepare for trips and stay healthy while abroad. It recommends vaccines and medicines to take before departure and symptoms to watch for during travel and when after return.
“International travelers do a lot to get ready for a trip — packing, planning activities, and making sure their passports are in order — but too few plan ahead for their health while traveling,” Dr. Gary Brunette, chief of CDC’s Travelers’ Health Branch, says in a statement. “CDC hopes clinicians and travelers will use the Yellow Book to learn about steps to take before, during and after travel to have a healthy and safe trip.”
To check out the travel book, go to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website.
