DVT Risk to long distance drivers

Honest John Back Room » Motoring discussion
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Mon 9 Jun 2003 16:45
DVT Risk to long distance drivers - OAP
"People think you get DVT (deep vein thrombosis) by sitting in cramped airline seats. But in reality there is a link between sitting still for long periods in any situation. It can happen if you are in an aeroplane, a vehicle or on a train."

So commented a consultant vascular surgeon following the death of a hire-car driver who suffered a blood clot in his calf during a five-hour return trip to Heathrow.

So, as this subject does not appear to have been mentioned in the Backroom before, I thought it advisable to remind others as well as myself that regular stops on long journeys are not only to relieve oneself and to avoid tiredness but also to keep DVT at bay.
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Mon 9 Jun 2003 17:31
DVT Risk to long distance drivers - CM
I think that the DVLA suggests that drivers should take a break every 1½ to 2 hours, not for DVT but tiredness. However if you follow their advice you should be able to kill 2 birds with one stone.
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Fri 13 Jun 2003 05:47
DVT Risk to long distance drivers - Dom F {P}
As someone who, until recently, sold the "Coaguchek S" Warfarin home-monitoring kit, I am aware of the risks of DVT.

A clot, be it DVT, Pulmonary Embolism or other, can indeed be caused by sitting for long periods. Warfarin, a blood thinning agent, is usually taken to prevent clotting. Similarly, Vitamin E will have the same effect. This is found in Liver, Egg yolks, Milk fats, nuts, seeds, butters and oils. If you have a fairly balanced diet with a leaning towards these foods, you should reduce any chance of a clot.

With most roadside burger vans being predominantly "greasy", it may explain why most truck/van drivers don't have a high rate of DVTs.

For more advice on this, contact Michael Knight at www.anticoagulationeurope.org

Incidentally, if any of you are on Warfarin, the Coaguchek retails at £399. I have an ex-demo kit for £100.
Kind regards
Dom F
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