Retiree Travel - How to Avoid DVT

Traveling is one of life's little pleasures once you retire. But did you know that there are certain risks with travel? Whether you fly on an airplane or sit for hours in a car, you could be at risk for deep vein thrombosis or DVT. You might have heard some horror stories of so and so's uncle who got it and died on the airplane or someone's Great Aunt Alice who died on a Greyhound bus traveling on another casino trip.

This DVT condition occurs when a blood clot suddenly develops and breaks off traveling to a crucial organ and impeding its function. A blood clot in the heart, lungs or brain can kill you before you can even get medical help. That is why DVT can strike fear in many older adults who travel. Of course, it can happen to younger people as well.

You've probably heard of the blood clots that can form while you are in an airplane. You think that these can be attributed to as much the cabin pressure as immobility. However, this same life-threatening blood clot can occur on a car trip, bus trip, train trip or any other mode of transportation where you do not have room to stretch out and move around. Heck, even sitting for hours knitting, watching television or sitting at the computer could put you at risk.

Deep vein thrombosis occurs when blood clots form in deep veins. These are the large blood vessels that run along the middle of an arm or leg and surrounded by muscles. Deep vein thrombosis occurs when a clot blocks a vein, even partially, to hinder blood circulation. A blood clot can also break off and travel through your blood stream as mentioned above lodging in a vital organ, effectively hindering its normal function.

Part of preventing deep vein thrombosis is educating you on ways to prevent it. There is great news however in reducing your chances of deep vein thrombosis. First of all, get exercise and staying physical is important. When possible, walk around the airplane cabin or stop your car and take a walk. This will keep your circulation in check. Keep hydrated by drinking water and avoiding dehydrating drinks like alcohol and sodas.

If you have recently had surgery or have heart disease or diabetes, you should talk with your doctor about your risks of travel in terms of developing deep vein thrombosis. At the very least, you will be prescribed support stockings which helps promote better blood circulation. Blood thinner medication may be another possibility depending on your illness or physical condition.

It is important that before you go on any trip where you may be sitting for any length of time, visit with your doctor. Explain your concerns and get some advice on how to prevent deep vein thrombosis from happening to you, especially if you have any pre-existing medical conditions. It is great that you want to travel during your retirement. However, you need to take the proper precautions to ensure your safety.

How Communication Promotes Healthy Aging

It pays to communicate frequently with your health care manager. When you communicate frequently, you cut back the risks of various diseases that affect the elderly. Studies show that people who frequently discuss their health with doctors live a longer and healthier life.


How far communication stretches:
Communication reaches further however than verbal words. When you doctor reviews your health, you should be willing to participate. Participation includes joining your doctors to find treatments or cures for your condition. In addition, you can communicate well with your doctor if you take the time to learn about healthcare, medicines, illnesses and so on. You not only stay informed, but you can help your doctor find treatments when the condition is swaying. For instance, if you are diagnosed with osteoarthritis, and have knowledge of the condition, you can provide your doctor pointers when the condition causes confusion.

Arthritis is commonly seen in older people. One of the leading causes is due to injuries and bones that hadn't healed during the injury. The patient may have lacked knowledge to strengthen the bones, muscles and joints, thus the condition lead to arthritis. Hereditary factors key into arthritis as well according to few experts. It is up to your bone structure and genetics that decide if you get arthritis. Contrary to these theories, it may be worth while learning, since arthritis is treatable when you catch it at its earliest stage.


Alzheimer's is a mental disorder that affects the intellectual functions. At the earliest stage, doctors state that cures are available. The problem is due to lack of knowledge from learning many elders visit the doctors at the later stage. Now we do not have a cure. Now, it these people would have took interest in their own health and various disorders that interrupt elders, thus they would probably miss dementia. Dementia derives from Alzheimer's disease, which at this stage the disease starts progressing.


Cancer is another disease that affects millions of our older generation. Cancers according to experts may have a chance if only the patient would have taking time to study and learn. As well, if the patient would have visited the doctor regularly, if the patient would have studied health care, thus this patient may had a cure. Since few people take the time to learn about health care, we have a world filled with patients dying from cancer, since no cures are available.


On the other hand, new studies has shown that the blood from a newborns umbilical cord may heal certain types of cancer. The blood is frozen after tested and stored to treat leukemia or other cancer patients. The blood creates new cells at rapid paces, which is great for restoring dying cells. As we grow older the dying, cells accumulate while the living cells degenerate. Perhaps these studiers of medicines has found their cure.

When you take time to communicate with your doctor and study health care, you will have the time to live for healthy aging.

Keep in mind the body's functions begin to decline when you turn 30. In spite of the facts, when you are young it is time to take action by communicating with your doctor regularly and learning more about healthy aging and disease.


Food for thought:
To stay healthy you will need a primary health care provider. You will need to continue visits, participate in testing, cures, treatments and so on. You will need to contact your doctor when symptoms emerge, which you know by now since you took time to learn about disease before it was too late!