Most people who travel frequently by air often experience feet swelling, which could also extend to the rest of your legs. The good news is that the condition, which mainly occurs due to inactivity, is typically harmless. Nevertheless, let’s take a look at some of the reasons behind feet swelling during travel.
This is the main cause of feet swelling when traveling that you are likely to sustain if you spend long hours in the air. When you are seated on a flight for several hours, the blood in your leg veins begins to pool together. Besides, the position of the legs when you are seated increases the pressure on the veins in your legs. As a result, fluid leaves the blood to the surrounding soft tissues, thereby making your feet to swell.
The foot swelling that is caused by inactivity is usually mild and lasts for a short time after you leave the flight and stretch your legs. If you have excessive feet swelling that lasts several hours after resuming activity, it could be an underlying problem like a blood clot in the legs. In case the swelling is painful and only affects one leg, you should seek immediate medical attention.
Those who have recently undergone major surgery and women on birth control pills may also experience feet swelling as they contribute increased risk of blood clots. Such people should talk to their doctors before traveling. The doctor may recommend that you wear compression stockings or take blood-thinning medication on the road.
If your case is not related to any medical condition, there are various ways to relieve foot swelling when traveling. You should wear loose-fitting clothes, take short walks at stop-over, change your seating position from time to time, and drink plenty of fluids to keep the body hydrated. To keep the legs active, you should also constantly flex your calf muscles and ankles when seated.
