Travel Risks
When traveling long distances - whether it be by plane, car, bus or train - your movement is limited and blood circulation in your legs is restricted. These cramped conditions over long periods of time can cause leg pain, swelling, lower body fatigue, Â and in some deadly cases - blood clots.
Blood Clots & Travel: The Invisible Risk
While few have symptoms, everyone has risks. In fact 75-99% of those who developed a travel-related blood clot had one or more preexisting risk factors and didn't even know it.
Myth: Blood clots only happen to old people
Truth: Blood clots can happen to anyone during travel, regardless of age, weight, or lifestyle.
Risk of blood clots increases with Travel Time
- Blood flow in the lower legs can decrease up to 50% after just 60 minutes of immobility.
- Research shows that any type of travel lasting 4 or more hours increases your chance of developing a deadly blood clot (DVT)
- Travel is associated with a 3-fold higher risk of DVT. Additionally, the risk increases with duration of travel -18% higher risk for DVT for each 2-hour increase in duration of travel by any mode (risk goes up to 26% for air travel)
- Low cabin pressure in air travel increases your chance of forming a blood clot.
Know the Risks:
- Previous blood clot
- Varicose Veins
- Family history
- Active cancer treatment
- Recent surgery/ trauma
- Greater than 40 years of age are at higher risk
- Smoking
- Obesity
- Oral Contraceptives
- Hormone replacement therapy
- Pregnancy or Postpartum period
Benefits of Compression Socks while Traveling
Wearing Travel or flight socks can provide the following benefits during long plane or car rides:
- Reduce Lower Body Fatigue
- Reduce  Leg Achiness
- Reduce Swelling of the Feet and Ankles
- Reduce the Incidence of Blood Clots (DVT’s)
How it Works?
Graduated compression socks work to simulate the action of the calf muscle pump during times when a person is inactive thus speeding up blood flow and helping to relieve these symptoms
Other tips for Travelers:
- Move your feet and ankles every 30 minutes - rotating them in circles helps
- Take a short walk every 2 hours
- Prevent dehydration by taking plenty of fluids and avoiding alcohol
- Wear comfortable clothing
Why Dr. Segal’s has the best Flight Socks?
- Dr’ Segal’s Sock Technology comes with anti-Microbial silver-ion wash that provide effective odor and stain protection as well as moisture-wicking technology to keep you dry and fresh during the entire journey
- Our compression socks are available in several fashionable colors and prints to match your style. Browse our Travel Collection (15-20 mmHg) that provides the right compression level for long flights and travel.