Spring Travels Are Nearing – Here's How to Travel Safely with PE

Spring Travels Are Nearing – Here’s How to Travel Safely with PE : After the long dreary days of winter, many people enjoy planning their spring and summer travels. While booking a getaway can be exciting, it can cause stress individuals with underlying health conditions such as pulmonary embolism (PE). For anyone living with PE, booking a vacation should include making plans to protect your health while traveling.

Symptoms and Causes of PE

For those who are unfamiliar with PE, the condition is caused by an unexpected blockage of the arteries within the lungs. This typically occurs when a blood clot from somewhere else in the body travels to the lungs via the circulatory system. In many cases, the clot originates in the legs, often called deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Depending on the size of the clots, PE can cause permanent damage to the lungs or even death.

Worst Case Travel Scenarios

DVT can occur when you’re confined to a space, such as a car or an airplane, for long periods of time. Immobility for more than four hours puts you at risk of developing blood clots which can be fatal. Before traveling long-distance, consider the following health factors:

It is worthwhile contacting your doctor for advice ahead of your travels to address any concerns.

While Traveling, Watch Out for Symptoms of PE

If you do decide to travel, it’s important to keep a close eye for the following PE symptoms:

Redness of the skin
Unexplained pain
Any swelling
Skin feeling warm

How to Travel Safely with PE

While traveling does increase the risk of PE and DVT, that doesn’t necessarily mean you shouldn’t travel if you have PE. As long as your doctor clears your travel plans and you take the following precautions, you should be able to travel without any inhibition.

If flying, it’s advisable to get up and walk about every one to two hours. When seated, do a range of exercises including knee lifts, ankle rotations and heel lifts. Compression socks or stockings are great for long flights and don’t forget to wear loose clothing. Be sure to stay hydrated. If you have a history of blood clots, make sure to take your medical liquids safely through security. Regarding other forms of travel, ensure you take regular breaks that enable you to get up and walk around.

If you have any questions or concerns about traveling with PE, schedule an appointment with your doctor. It may be worthwhile to ask your doctor about the EKOS catheter designed for dissolving thrombus. With this device, an ultrasonic core generates an acoustic field which targets the thrombus safely and lowers the risk of bleeding.

Even if you don’t have PE, you should still talk to your doctor if you think you may be at risk or if a close family member has a history of blood clots. A doctor may well prescribe a blood-thinning medication to help prevent blood clots.

Be PE Wise

Statistics indicate that if you’ve been inactive for a long time, your chance of getting a pulmonary embolism increases. This increase is due to the blood collecting in the lower half of your body, particularly the legs. This can occur after a long flight, after an operation and after long spells of bed rest.

If you plan to travel this spring or summer, make sure you take the risks of PE into consideration and practice healthy habits that help prevent blood clots.