Long-distance travel, playing mahjong and sitting for a long time may cause "fatal" blood clots! This detail is crucial

During the Spring Festival holiday, many people return home to visit relatives or travel. Liu Guangqin, a vascular surgeon at Shanghai Changhai Hospital, reminds that when taking a plane, train, bus or long-distance self-driving, there is a disease that may quietly come to you and you need to pay attention to it. This is economy class syndrome.

What is Economy Class Syndrome?

Economy class syndrome is also called "card table syndrome" and medically known as "deep vein thrombosis of the lower extremities". As economy class seats are relatively narrow and crowded, the legs cannot be moved for a long time, which can cause the blood flow in the veins of the lower extremities to slow down, stagnate, and form blood clots. Playing cards with friends and family during holidays, sitting still for a long time, drinking less water, and smoking a lot can also easily lead to this condition. Crowded train carriages and long-distance self-driving have similar risk factors.

How do blood clots form?

Thrombosis refers to abnormal coagulation of blood in blood vessels. The liquid component of blood is called plasma, which contains formed elements such as blood cells and platelets. Normally, it flows smoothly, but for some reason, the formed elements in plasma coagulate, and the local blood flow coagulates into lumps, or even jelly or paste-like objects, which forms a thrombus.

What are the consequences of deep vein thrombosis in the lower extremities?

The initial symptoms of deep vein thrombosis in the lower extremities are swelling, pain and discomfort in the lower extremities, which are often ignored. Once the thrombus breaks off and circulates in the blood to the pulmonary artery, it may cause pulmonary embolism, resulting in symptoms such as palpitations, chest tightness, shortness of breath, coughing, and hemoptysis. In severe cases, it may lead to sudden death. Doctors remind that deep vein thrombosis in the lower extremities and pulmonary embolism are collectively called venous thromboembolism, which is the third largest vascular system disease after cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases worldwide, with a very high mortality rate.

Factors leading to deep vein thrombosis of lower extremities and treatment methods

1. Slow blood flow: such as economy class syndrome and card table syndrome, which are most common during holidays.

Tips: When traveling by plane or train, it is recommended to frequently change posture and move the lower limbs, for example, do active dorsiflexion of the ankle joints similar to stepping on a sewing machine, 50 times each time, intermittently. For self-driving, it is recommended to rest at the service area for 2 hours, get off the car and move around for a few minutes, or raise the legs above the heart level to promote venous return. It is recommended that friends who travel for a long time wear gradient elastic stockings for the lower limbs, which is a preventive measure for venous thrombosis written into international guidelines.

2. Hypercoagulable state of blood: for example, high blood lipids, thick blood, and drinking less water

Tips: Drink plenty of water during travel and family gatherings. It is recommended to drink about 2000 ml of water every day. Elderly people with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases or hyperlipidemia are advised to avoid greasy food during travel. For those who have bleeding and allergic diseases, you can take 100 mg of enteric-coated aspirin tablets orally to prevent thrombosis.

In addition, doctors remind that not only venous thrombosis is prevalent during the Spring Festival, but arterial thrombosis is also prevalent.

What are the causes of arterial thrombosis?

1. Atrial fibrillation: Atrial fibrillation in the elderly can cause irregular heartbeats, which affect blood circulation and are prone to intracardiac thrombosis. Thrombi fall off with the beating of the heart, which can cause embolism of the brain, kidneys, intestines, and limb arteries, leading to cerebral infarction and embolism of arteries of important organs, resulting in serious consequences or even death.

2. Hyperlipidemia: increased blood viscosity, arteriosclerosis, and rough blood vessel walls.

3. Diabetes: Due to the long-term stimulation of the vascular endothelium by high blood sugar, patients may experience uneven vascular endothelium, arteriosclerosis, high blood viscosity, and easy to cause thrombosis.

4. Infection with the new coronavirus or other pathogens that enter the blood vessels will cause damage to the vascular endothelium and trigger blood clots.

Tips:

1. Have regular physical examinations to check whether you have heart ischemia, arteriosclerosis, and whether your blood pressure, blood sugar, and blood lipid levels are normal.

2. During the Spring Festival, when preparing for the New Year and attending parties, avoid being tired and emotional. Avoid eating too greasy food, smoking, and drinking in moderation.

3. When the weather suddenly gets cold or hot, pay attention to controlling your blood pressure levels and self-check changes in your heart rate.

4. Control blood sugar and blood lipid levels, and try to eat light, high-protein, and fresh food.

Expert: Liu Guangqin, attending physician of vascular surgery at Shanghai Changhai Hospital