Helped Over 500,000 patients with 98%+ satisfaction.

Connect & Get Personalized 1-to-1 Answers from Expert Doctors

DoctorSpring > Question Home

Can long flights cause DVT?

Resolved Question:

22, female. I got off a plane a few hours ago -first leg was a 3hr flight, followed by a 10-minute layover/change of plane and then finally another 90min flight. I had quite tight pants on and quite tight shoes and since I got off the 2nd plane my legs and ankles have been aching. After online research it appears I might have developed DVT...were these flights long enough to cause this? Thanks.

Category: Community

Ask Your Own Question

Category: Family Physician-GP
 29 Doctors Online

Hello, With reference to your query regarding whether you had developed DVT or not. You did travel in a plane first it was 3 hours flight and a break of 10 minutes for a change over and again another 90 minutes flight, then you started noticing aches in your legs and ankles. First and foremost thing is you should be examined immediately by your doctor or G.P and asses the present situation, whether you really developed DVT or a just a sprain. Generally if the travel is either by flight, by car, train and it is more than 4 hours there is every tendency to develop DVT, because most of the time you are being inactive for long periods of time. If there is a risk of developing of DVT even if you travel a small distance in addition to other risk factors like overweight, wearing light clothes, smoking, pregnancy or recently had a baby. Family history of DVT, taking contraceptive pills which contains estrogen or taking hormone replacement therapy, had a DVT before, immobility, thrombophilia, anti phospholipid syndrome, cancer and some inflammatory conditions and so on. To confirm this you get a blood test called a D-Dimer ultrasound and venography. When once it is confirmed you can have few more tests done to know what stage your thrombosis is and the nature of treatment. So let us not worry about that and get you examined either by a doctor or a G.P. as early as possible. Thank you.


Dr. John Monheit
Category: Family Physician-GP
Experience: 
Residecny: North Colorado Family Medicine
Medical School: The Chicago Medical Center
Dr. John Monheit and 4 other Medical Specialists are ready to help you

Users who read this, also read:

Make informed and better medical decisions.

Join the 500,000 people who found a smarter, quicker way to get Answers, Recommendations & Expert Opinions.

Expert Doctors at fingertips

Recommendation on next step. Second-opinion.Multi-specialty.

Save Time

Average time for answers: 6 hours.

Save Money

$35 for typical specialist consult vs. $120 for a local appointment.

Free Follow-ups

Clarify, ask further questions for free in private conversation.

100% Satisfaction

Money back guarantee for the 1st reply. MEDNET Quality Board.

Start My Consultation

CHAT NOW

About DoctorSpring.com

Doctor Spring is a novel online Doctor consultation platform where you can get your medical questions answered by leading Doctors. Just Submit your question and rest assured that you will consult a Doctor easily. Once you submit the question, the Doctor from the concerned specialty will reply within hours. You can always ask more questions or add details with follow-up question options and make it an online doctor chat. You may use this service to consult a specialty or for getting medical second opinion. All paid services come with a MEDNET quality assurance and 100% money back guarantee.

DoctorSpring in news