I never pay for 1st class on an airplane, but I do spring for Economy Plus to get extra legroom. It's worth the extra money to reduce my chances of getting a blood clot in my legs.
Amen. I actually had experience with blood clots in my legs that traveled up to my lungs....and let me tell you...the extra $xxx for the extra leg room is very preferable over the $xx,xxx hospital bill. Sigh.
I've heard about those, and it sounds awful. Is it not possible to avoid through activity?
I'm so naturally restless that I don't think I'm at risk, but I admit that I don't fully understand the risk factors. My wife and I fly to Argentina to see her family roughly once a year*, and that 10-hour flight sucks... I tense and stretch my legs constantly throughout the flight, not to consciously avoid clots but just because I can't stay still and can't get comfortable for long. Should I still worry?
*Obligatory side note, this being MMM: this tradition will delay FIRE by at least a year, most likely. Oh well. They're lovely people and homesickness is a real issue for her. I think of it as mental health insurance. :)
Unfortunately....some people are just unlucky. Birth control pills were a risk factor to blame for mine, so they say. I was a very healthy person other than that isolated incident. I would like to think it was just a fluke since I generally get up multiple times and move around on a plane, and I figit around while I sit. Who knows.
I have to chime in as I work in a blood clot related field...
There are lots of risk factors for getting a clot (I wouldn't assume you are ok bc you fidget. Get up and walk around!) including:
-smoking
-use of oral contraceptives
-water consumption (drinking water is helpful)
-physical activity (ie lack of)
-surgery & hospitalization
-past history (yours and family)
You really want to be concerned if you are flight over 4 hours and have any of the other risk factors. Get up and walk around on any flight if you can and definitely any above 2-3 hours.
We think about clots on planes a lot but most are actually a result of being in the hospital or having surgery. Definitely talk to your doctor any time you have surgery or are hospitalized to see how to reduce your risk of clots, 2/3 of all blood clots are related to hospitalization!
Interestingly enough, many runners think they are ok because they are physically active but it can actually be a huge risk if you run a marathon and then get on a plane or are very inactive the next day or shortly after. If you travel to marathons, be careful!
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