What can I do to prevent DVT?

Patients in hospital who are risk of DVT are given compression stockings to wear and drugs that reduce the ability of the blood to clot, such as aspirin.

In November 2000, the House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology recommended that airlines should introduce health briefings at the beginning of flights, and include information on DVT in seat-back pockets. Varda, the Victims of Air-Related DVT Association, has been lobbying the European Union to make this compulsory. As a result of the House of Lords' recommendations, the government asked the Institute for Environment and Health (IEH) to review health issues in aircraft cabins. The IEH's Study on the possible effects on health of aircraft cabin environments is available at  www.aviation.dft.gov.uk

The Aerospace Medical Association says that air travellers can reduce the risk of DVT by:

• Exercising the calf muscles while seated. Some airline magazines, such as British Airways' HighLife contains useful leg exercises.
• Getting up and walking around the cabin every 60-90 minutes.
• Drinking plenty of water during the flight.
• Avoiding alcohol, caffeine and not taking sleeping tablets.