Thrombosis grafting in the veins is life threatening

How to prevent thrombosis while traveling
Every year around 100,000 people in Germany die as a result of a pulmonary embolism, which is usually caused by thrombosis. This creates a graft in the blood that obstructs the bloodstream. If this dangerous blood clot dissolves, it can migrate into the lungs and clog a vessel there. Especially when traveling, the risk of thrombosis is increased, since the long sitting with bent legs, the blood flow is additionally slowed down. The news agency "dpa" spoke to experts on how to effectively prevent thrombosis on long flights or bus trips.

Thrombosis usually occurs in the veins in the leg or pelvis
Thrombosis occurs when a blood clot (thrombus) forms in a blood vessel or in the heart, obstructing the bloodstream. For example, the blood usually clots when we have a bleeding wound to stop the bleeding. In a thrombosis, however, the coagulation is not useful but harmful and may even have life-threatening consequences for the person affected. Thus, a pulmonary embolism threatens when the graft dissolves and migrates to the lungs.

Thrombosis is very dangerous and must be treated as an emergency. (Image: ras-slava / fotolia)

Theoretically, thrombosis can occur in any vein of the body. If the blood clot blocks an artery, it can trigger a heart attack, a stroke or a leg artery occlusion. Most thrombosis occurs in the veins in the leg or pelvis. Typical symptoms of such thrombosis include swelling of the ankle or leg, pain in the calf such as sore muscles, and sometimes bluish colored skin. "The signs are often ambiguous," reports Holger Lawall of the German Society of Angiology. "Many people do not notice anything at first."

Most of the elderly are affected by the disease. "The main risk factor for thrombosis is age," explains Lawall. Thus, the risk of thrombosis increases significantly from the age of 60 years. Even after an operation or if you had to lie over a longer period of time, the danger increases. In addition, hormonal changes, such as during pregnancy, and through the birth control pills promote increased blood clotting.

When traveling, sitting on long legs with bent legs increases the risk of thrombosis
People who are at increased risk of thrombosis are particularly at risk on long trips in the car, bus or plane, because the blood flow is braked by sitting with legs bent. "Those who belong to one of the risk groups should first of all talk to their doctor about meaningful preventative care," advises Prof. Tomas Jelinek, Medical Director of the Berlin Center for Travel and Tropical Medicine. "Otherwise, the risk of thrombosis on long flights or rides is not as high as we thought a few years ago." In general, however, it makes sense to occasionally move the legs, tighten the calf muscles and wiggle their toes to support the veins to move the blood against gravity back to the heart. So that nothing flows back again, the venous valves act as valves. "Even special travel socks that are made of a denser nylon fabric, support the blood flow and have the pleasant side effect that the feet do not swell," explains Jelinek. In addition, it makes sense to drink a lot to keep the blood fluid. However, one should abstain from alcohol, as this favors a collapse of the blood in the veins and thus has an opposite effect.

Another way to prevent thrombosis on long journeys is by custom compression stockings or medicines for patients who are already at increased risk for the disease. But this should always be discussed with a doctor first. Thus, Jelinek points out that drugs with a blood-thinning effect like aspirin have no effect on the veins.

Before the trip, a vein check makes sense
"Varicose veins know that their discomfort is getting worse with heat. That's why a check makes sense. Then you can react before the summer holidays, "advises Michael Wagner, President of the German Veins League e.V in a statement from the association. By prolonged sitting increases in this patient, among other things, the risk of thrombosis. For this reason, the German Veins League e.V. and the Capio Mosel-Eifel-Klinik are holding an information day on the topic of "Venous diseases, prevention and treatment" on June 20, 2015 in Bad Bertrich.

This is how thrombi arise. (Image: reineg / fotolia)

"Even those who had an accident or become ill on holiday should speak with the attending physician about a thrombosis prophylaxis before returning home", emphasizes Petra Hager-Häusler of the German Vein League. Healthy people without previous illnesses, for example, have pneumonia or a leg fracture also an increased risk of thrombosis.

Thrombosis can cause life-threatening pulmonary embolism
A thrombosis should always be treated by a doctor. Otherwise, there may be danger to life. "About one-third of patients with deep vein thrombosis suffer a pulmonary embolism," warns veterinarian Lawall. This happens when the blood clot has come off the wall of the leg vein and has been flushed into the lungs with the bloodstream. There, the plug can clog a vessel and cause parts of the lungs are no longer supplied with sufficient blood.

Treatment of thrombosis is therefore primarily aimed at preventing the blood clot from continuing to grow, thus reducing the risk of pulmonary embolism. Most patients initially receive injections of the drug heparin. Later, tablets with other active ingredients can be taken. Usually the treatment lasts several months, because the risk of a new thrombosis is high.

The drugs are taken for blood thinning and must be tailored to the individual patient. Too high a dose could cause unwanted and dangerous bleeding in the body.

Patients are also provided with compression stockings or bandages as these compress the veins in a controlled manner, thus supporting the function of the veins and venous valves. "Consistently wearing the compression stockings and taking the tablets is the best way to prevent a relapse," says Lawall. (Ag)

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