Warmer weather and no school means more travel for Louisianans. These travels can take Louisianans to international, national or local vacation spots in the air or by car.
However, those longer trips can give way to health concerns: Developing blood clots.
While clotting is a normal process in the body -- to help heal wounds, for example -- certain blood clots in the legs can cause intense pain and swelling.
Blood clots, specifically deep vein thrombosis, are blood-proteins that have turned from liquid into a solid, jellylike substance that can form in veins in the arms, legs or groin area on the body.
These clots, caused most commonly by remaining in one position for an extended period of time, can travel through the body to the heart or the lungs to cause pulmonary embolisms -- a life-threatening condition.
Symptoms of a pulmonary embolism include sudden shortness of breath, chest pain that worsens with deep breaths, rapid heart rate or coughing up blood. Both blood clots and pulmonary embolisms require immediate medical attention.
Dr. Josh Sibille, Lafayette-born vascular surgeon in Louisiana, treats patients for this condition often.
Although deep vein thrombosis can form in the arms, the legs are more common -- and more problematic, according to Sibille.
Dr. Godfrey Parkerson, a vascular surgeon, said blood clots in the arm are less common than in the legs because the blood in the arms does not have to travel as far against gravity to return to the heart.
Thus the blood is much less likely to stagnate and turn into clot.
"Veins in the legs are much larger which can make larger blood clots and larger pulmonary embolisms that can block the main arteries of the lungs and be dangerous or even fatal," Pakerson said.
Blood clots in the arms can cause swelling, pain or discoloration of the arms just like in the legs.
"What we see most commonly are patients who recently traveled. They spend 10 or 12 hours in the car or on a plane," Sibille said. "Or five or six hours on a flight."
Symptoms of blood clots, specifically deep vein thrombosis, in the legs include:
Swelling in one legDiscoloration in one leg, typically redness,Intense pain in one leg,New pain or discomfort in one leg.
These symptoms develop in a matter of hours. According to Parkerson, that swelling or pain typically persists or worsens the longer the person goes without treatment.
"It does not go away overnight with sleep or with elevation," Parkerson said.
Dr. Brad Vincent, a pulmonologist in Baton Rouge, said not all blood clots cause pain or discoloration, but swelling is a very common symptom.
"If you look down at your ankles and feet and no longer see bony architecture poking through -- you can't see your ankle bones (because of swelling)," Vincent said. "That's a strong indicator of a blood clot."
If the swelling doesn't improve with ice and elevation, according to Sibille, it is a good indicator that something else could be wrong, and medical attention is necessary.
Not all blood clots in the leg cause swelling or discoloration.
Trouble breathing, shortness of breath or sharp chest pain could be signs that the blood clot has moved from the legs to the lungs or heart. If these serious symptoms are present, it is important to receive immediate medical attention.
"Anybody who has new swelling and pain in the arms, legs or groin should go in to be evaluated by their primary care doctor or the emergency room," Sibille said. "It can be a very serious condition, but it's also easy to rule out."
A noninvasive ultrasound can find most blood clots in the arms, legs and groin. Once a blood clot is found, the typical treatment is to place a patient on blood thinners for at least three months, depending on the severity and reason for the blood clot.
Preventing blood clots during summer travel
Patients who plan to travel on long trips, whether in a car, bus or airplane, should be mindful to move the body at various increments during the journey.
"You can do exercises to move your legs like calf raises or calf flexes," Sibille said. "You don't want the blood to just sit there and cool in your legs."
The sweet spot is to move the legs, standing up and stretching if possible, every two to three hours, according to both Sibille and Vincent. The blood in the legs can move in and out of the veins by compressing the muscles, and keeping the calves and legs in motion reduce the risk of clotting.
Parkerson also recommend compression socks, although they are only a part of the picture for preventing blood clots. Patients should also keep up their movement and stay well hydrated.
"Our blood gets thicker and more prone to clotting when we get dehydrated," Parkerson said. "So drink plenty of water."
Some stretches and movements to prevent blood clots in the legs and arms include:
Raise and lower the heels while the toes remain on the floorRaise and lower the toes while the heels remain on the floorTighten and release the leg muscles (both the calves and thighs)Manually massage the calves and legs to move the muscles around.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends high-risk patients to speak to their doctor about wearing compression stockings or taking medicine before departure. Taking aspirin to prevent blood clots when traveling is not recommended, the CDC said.
Other conditions increase the chances of getting blood clots, according to the CDC, include:
Having had a previous blood clotA family history of blood clotsA known clotting disorderRecent surgery, hospitalization or injuryUse of estrogen-containing birth control or hormone replacement therapyCurrent or recent pregnancyOlder ageObesityCancer or cancer treatment, such as chemotherapySerious medical conditions like congestive heart failure or inflammatory bowel disease.