Some experts recommend waiting to fly on an airplane for at least four weeks after having DVT or PE
, but talk to your doctor about this. Also talk to your doctor to determine what precautions you should take before flying.
How long does it take for lungs to heal after pulmonary embolism?
A pulmonary embolism (PE) is caused by a blood clot that gets stuck in an artery in your lungs. That blockage can damage your lungs and hurt other organs if they don’t get enough oxygen. It’s a serious condition, and recovery can take
weeks or months
. Once you’ve had one, your chances of another go up.
Can you travel with a pulmonary embolism?
A person should seek emergency medical care if they experience any symptoms of PE.
No one should travel with an untreated PE
. If a person experiences symptoms of a PE during a flight, they should let the flight crew know. An emergency landing may be necessary so that the person can get appropriate medical care.
What should you not do after a pulmonary embolism?
During this time, they may need to keep taking medication to prevent additional blood clots. Sometimes, people need to take medication indefinitely. A doctor may advise that people
avoid long journeys, foods rich in vitamin K, and strenuous exercise
while they recover from a pulmonary embolism.
Can you travel on blood thinners?
Should I keep taking them when I travel?
YES! Anticoagulants do not work if they are taken in a haphazard way
– they need to be taken reliably in order to work. If you skip doses or stop taking them for a period of time, your blood can actually become MORE sticky and increase your risk of blocked blood vessels.
What are the chances of having a second pulmonary embolism?
The chances of having a second DVT or pulmonary embolism, in which a blood clot travels to the lungs, are
about 11 percent after the first year and about 40 percent after 10 years
, according to research published in a 2007 issue of Haematologica.
How do you know if a blood clot is traveling?
Signs of PE might include the following:
Shortness of breath
. A rapid heartbeat. Chest pain or discomfort that gets worse when you breathe deeply or cough.
How long does it take for a blood clot to travel?
It is important to start treatment right away for DVT. It takes about
3 to 6 months
for a blood clot to go away. During this time, there are things you can do to relieve symptoms.
Can you feel a blood clot travel?
Pain. As the clot gets worse,
you may feel a sensation ranging from a dull ache to intense pain
. The pain may throb in your leg, belly, or even arm. Swelling in the spot where the blood clot has formed or throughout your entire arm or leg.
Why am I so tired after a pulmonary embolism?
After a pulmonary embolism
the body spends a lot of energy on healing the heart and lungs, even if they were minimally effected
. You may feel more tired, more often and be more sick, more often then before your PE.
How long do you stay in hospital with a blood clot?
The length of time you will stay in the hospital for treatment of a blood clot varies. The average hospital stay length is
between five and seven days
. However, some people may only stay for two or three days while others stay for two to three weeks.
What can you not do while on blood thinners?
Because you are taking a blood thinner, you should
try not to hurt yourself and cause bleeding
. You need to be careful when you use knives, scissors, razors, or any sharp object that can make you bleed. You also need to avoid activities and sports that could cause injury. Swimming and walking are safe activities.
How long can you live with a pulmonary embolism?
Recent findings:
The death rate after pulmonary embolism is less than 5% during 3-6 months
of anticoagulant treatment, provided that the patient is hemodynamically stable and free of major underlying disease. The rate of recurrent thromboembolism is less than 5% on anticoagulant therapy, reaching 30% after 10 years.
Will I have to stay in hospital with a blood clot?
If you suspect that you have a blood clot or experience any of the signs and symptoms,
you should consider going to the ED
. Signs of DVT include: Swelling of the legs, ankles, or feet. Discomfort, heaviness, pain, aching, throbbing, itching, or warmth in the legs.
Do blood thinners shorten your life?
They do not depend on or interfere with the blood’s natural clotting mechanism to be effective, so they can be used safely by people who are taking blood thinning medications.
Blood thinning medications save lives
.
Can a blood clot move while on blood thinners?
Yes. Medications that are commonly called blood thinners — such as aspirin, warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven), dabigatran (Pradaxa), rivaroxaban (Xarelto), apixaban (Eliquis) and heparin —
significantly decrease your risk of blood clotting, but will not decrease the risk to zero
.
Does altitude affect blood clots?
Higher altitudes lead to physiological changes that may predispose to VTEs, including deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE)
.
Should you move around with a blood clot?
For most people,
walking or taking care of some housework are fine right after you find out you have DVT
. It’s also OK right after a pulmonary embolism. Your doctor may prescribe a blood thinner — they may call it an anticoagulant — and compression stockings. Those help blood flow in your legs.
