Question:
A woman returning on a 12000 mile journey from the Olympics in Sydney to London died from "deep vein thrombosis" or what the some associated with the airline industry is calling . This happened from in the cramped coach class section of Qantas Airways on a flight from Sydney to London via Singapore which took a total of 20 hours.
My point in this matter is I imagine that this same thing could happen to drivers sitting in a car for long periods without getting up because the drivers side of a car can be just as cramped as coach (aka cattle) class.
Any comments?
Erik.
------
My price to drive OTR: $77,500 annually after taxes. The carrier must sign a binding contract. No work will be performed without being properly compensated.

Answer:

I heard this report as well. Here's the key....20 hours.
That's a long time! I don't think any driver sits in the driver's side that long....if they do, they better have more than one 'comic book'.
What the report doesn't mention is how this woman was dressed. Did she have tight restrictive clothing on that also contributed to impeding blood flow and return from the lower extremities?
They don't mention whether she had a previous health history or predisposition to blood clots.
Anyone sitting for long periods of time should practice doing passive exercise with the lower extremities. Tighten and relax the calf muscles 15 to 20 times each side every 1/2 hour or so. Rotate the foot in a circle (both directions) on the same schedule. Then do the thigh muscles.
You don't need a lot of space to do this and it can be done while driving.
Drinking plenty of fluids and taking an aspirin a day won't hurt either. I recommend either baby aspirin or the enteric coated ones to prevent stomach problems. Of course, one should check with your physician before doing the aspirin thing, especially if you are taking other medications.
A lot of people who sit in cramped areas have a tendency to tuck the feet backwards or cross the legs or ankles. DON'T! Extend your legs as far as possible so as not to impede blood flow at the joints.
Those are my thoughts on the subject.
------
Keeping you safe, healthy, and on the road.
Nurse Red
Visit us at

Answer:

Here's the theory on how my Wife got what was called "Deep Thrombo Phlebitis".While on birth control,she shared a small office with a chain smoker(which was the equivalent to her being a smoker,although she isn't).She spent two ten day periods in the hospital in one month.Heparin I.V.s followed by a prescription for coumadin.She was in the hospital twice because the heparin did not completely dissolve the clots the first time.During her pregnancies with both our children,she had to take 2 or 3 injections of heparin daily because the hormonal changes could cause her blood to clot.To this day the calf of her leg that had the phlebitis is larger than the other one.once you have it you are always succeptible to get it again.She is careful to stretch her legs on long trips and avoid doing anything that would restrict the circulation in her legs.
She also thinks a trip to Germany 6months earlier may have also may have contributed to this.(9 hours on the plane,I think)
Jim