e-Newsletter - May 2015
Advancing the Prevention, Early Diagnosis, and
Treatment of Life-Threatening Blood Clots

Are We There Yet?

Keeping your blood flowing when you are sedentary for long periods of time, such as during travel, is vital to help prevent a dangerous blood clot from forming. The summer travel season is almost here, so make sure to add this important information about travel and blood clots to your itinerary.

 

More than 300 million people travel on long-distance flights (more than four hours) each year. The formation of a blood clot, also called deep vein thrombosis (DVT), can be a serious risk for some travelers. While most of the information about blood clots and travel has been gathered about air travel, anyone who is traveling more than four hours by car, bus, or train can also be at risk for blood clots.

 

In the course of a normal day, you move. Walking, bending, and turning all involve the muscles in your legs and feet. This muscle activity pumps the blood within your veins and supports active blood flow. When you're confined to your seat in an airplane, this activity is greatly decreased and can allow the blood in the deep veins (veins not visible through the skin) to potentially form a clot. A DVT, which will frequently form in a person's leg or arm, can obstruct blood flow, which can cause causing swelling and pain. A much more serious health problem can result when a DVT breaks free and travels to your lungs. This is called a pulmonary embolism (PE) and requires immediate medical attention to prevent lung damage or even death. It is extremely important to know and recognize the symptoms of a DVT or PE.  Find them here.

 

Hydration is very important while traveling, too. Regular intake of fluids (except alcoholic or caffeinated beverages) helps keep your blood volume stable. The water absorbed from these liquids replenishes water loss and keeps your blood vessels full, which may help lessen the risk for a blood clot.

 

Staying hydrated and moving around are two things that can help you stay clot-free during your summer travels. If you have a history of blood clots or if you have any additional risk factors, talk to your doctor about other preventive measures you can take so that this summer you'll be good to go.

Fitness in Flight
Exercises for Long Trips

Work these activities into your travel time once an hour, especially during trips of four hours or longer, to keep your blood moving and reduce your risk of a blood clot.

 

Walk in Place

Get the circulation moving in your legs by walking in place for 30 seconds.




Calf Raises

Stand with your legs hip-width apart, rise up onto your toes and hold for a second or two. Repeat 20 times. 

 

Squats

Stand with your feet hip-width apart then sit back as if you are sitting in a chair while reaching out in front of you for balance. Repeat 20 times.


 

Flexing and Foot Circles

If you can't get out of your seat, do this every 30 minutes or so. Extend your leg as far as you can, point your toes then flex your foot 25 times. Follow by moving your foot in circles 10 times.





Community Connection

                                  
Walk to Stop the Clot
The  6th Annual ABWA Walk for Blood Clot Awareness is Saturday, June 13th. Join us for a three mile walk through lower Manhattan, over the Brooklyn Bridge and back again. This year's walk will honor the memory of Victor Perniola, who passed away in January from a blood clot at age 46. Victor's family believes that, if he had fully understood how dangerous his condition was, his life could have been saved. His family and his employer, Lazard, have joined forces with NBCA and ABWA to support this event and raise awareness about the dangers of blood clots. To register, donate, or gain more information, click here.

 

 

Everything's Bigger in Texas - NEW DATE

Join us on Sunday, June 28th, for the 5th Annual Stop the Clot 5K Run and 1 Mile Fun Walk in Austin, Texas. This event has been rescheduled due to bad weather, so here's your chance if you haven't registered yet. Even if you can't be there, you can be a virtual walker and still raise funds to support the event. Everyone who registers for the race will have use of the facilities at The Reserve at Lake Travis for the day. This includes the infinity pool, the lazy river, swim up bar, waterslide, kids swim area, lake access, food and drink specials and more! For more information or to register or make a donation, click here.


   

I Couldn't Run Five Feet Without Feeling Like I Was Drowning ...
Carlos Ferro's Patient Story
"My symptoms began a couple of days after I returned to Miami from a two-week  trip  to Israel. I felt a sharp pain in my left calf  that  I  assumed  was just a cramp or stiffness from being on a plane for 15 hours..." 
Read Carlos' patient story  here.


 


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www.stoptheclot.org


National Blood Clot Alliance 

110 North Washington Street | Suite 328 | Rockville | MD | 20850

301.825.9587

877.4.NO.CLOT

(877) 466-2568

 



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