AAA anticipating busy vacation journey season

Almost a 3rd of People will journey for the vacations.

AAA estimates 112.7 million folks will journey 50 miles or extra in the time-frame from December 23 to January 2. 2022 is predicted to be the third busiest 12 months for vacation journey because the firm started monitoring in 2000.

Almost 102 million People will drive to get to their vacation locations, and air journey will enhance 14 p.c over final 12 months, AA predicts.

All that sitting can enhance your danger for blood clots.

“Blood clots are a reasonably frequent factor we see, particularly within the veins,” mentioned Dr. Hassan Kamran, who works in interventional cardiology on the Memorial Hermann Well being System.

Whereas everyone seems to be navigating staying wholesome with the flu, COVID-19, and different diseases circulating, blood clots are one other downside to be careful for.

In line with the CDC, sitting for lengthy durations of time can enhance your possibilities of growing a deep vein thrombosis, which is a sort of blood clot that types in a big vein. A part of this clot may break off and journey to the lungs which causes a blockage of arteries within the lung.

“It is not unusual for folks to come back in that have been on a flight, get right here, after which begin having leg swelling or leg ache and even shortness of breath,” Dr. Kamran mentioned. “What folks are inclined to see is that they’ll have elevated ache, tenderness, or swelling within the space. It is usually simply affecting one leg.”

Dr. Karman mentioned different indicators to look out for are shortness of breath if a clot breaks off and travels to the lungs.

Specialists have methods you possibly can forestall this from occurring.

“Typically while you’re strolling, transferring round, your muscle tissue are additionally transferring round. The legs are contracting and that helps promote the stream of blood again up the veins,” he mentioned. “The primary factor folks can do to mitigate the chance is simply transferring often.”

The CDC additionally has an inventory of danger elements that may enhance your likelihood for travel-associated blood clots. This consists of:

• Older age
• Weight problems
• Current surgical procedure or harm
• Use of estrogen-containing contraceptives
• Hormone substitute remedy
• Being pregnant and the postpartum interval
• Earlier blood clot or a household historical past of blood clots
• Energetic most cancers or current most cancers therapy
• Restricted mobility
• Catheter positioned in a big vein
• Varicose veins

To remain wholesome whereas touring, the CDC recommends being updated on routine vaccines, making ready a journey well being equipment, and washing your arms. Specialists say you may as well reduce publicity to viruses on airplanes by bringing hand sanitizer, sporting a masks, and reserving direct flights as an alternative of 1 with a layover.