Why Does Foot Swelling Occur While Flying?

Leg swelling during flight travel is common and occurs majorly due to prolonged stationary sitting positions, unmindful salty food intake, and underlying disease conditions.

Highlights:

It is normal to experience swelling in the legs and feet when flying, which is probably due to spending a lot of time in a motionless sitting position
The major causes of leg swelling include stationary position, gravity effect, high salt intake, deep vein thrombosis, medications, and underlying disease conditions
Compression socks, hydration, leg massage, leg workouts, and comfortable footwear can mitigate leg swelling during flight travel

It's possible that you've observed that it's slightly more difficult to fit back into your shoes after taking a lengthy flight. This is due to the fact that swelling in the feet and ankles is very prevalent.

Swelling of the legs and feet is typical when flying. Usually, it's not harmful. The most likely cause of this is spending a lot of time in a stationary position when flying.

Ankle Edema
Ankle edema also known as peripheral edema is a swelling over either one or both ankles. Examples of generalized causes include heart and kidney disease. Treatment depends on the underlying condition.

‘Studies show that leg swelling is present in around 97 of 100 people who fly for more than 7 hours. #airtravel #edema #legswelling #DVT #medindia’

Why Does Flying Cause Your Feet to Swell?

It all boils down to spending a lot of time sitting still and not moving during flights.

The Gravity Effect

Blood pools in the veins of the legs when one sits with their feet on the floor for an extended period of time. Seated posture also puts more pressure on the veins in the legs. This contributes to edema by causing fluid to migrate from the circulation into the soft tissues around it ().

When sitting, the muscles that help pump fluid out of your legs are inactive, fueling more leg swelling.

The longer you are sitting still, the more gravity pulls fluid down to your feet and ankles. Additionally, the bent legs and elevated pressure on the veins caused by your sitting position exacerbate swelling in the affected areas.

Extended-haul flights cause a considerable buildup of fluid in the lower limbs, specifically the thigh and lower leg. After the flights, the increased tissue thickness can even persist for a few days.

Deep Vein Thrombosis

Leg swelling can occasionally be brought on by a potentially fatal blood clot known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT). However, for healthy individuals, the chance of developing DVT while flying is quite low, particularly for shorter journeys than four hours. Generally speaking, traveling longer than 12 hours increases the risk of developing DVT.

High Salty Foods

We frequently eat at restaurants, grab snacks, and eat other processed meals that are heavy in salt while we travel. This will increase the amount of salt in our bodies, causing an increase in fluid and further exacerbating swollen legs.

Underlying Diseases

Regardless of altitude, a number of medical disorders, such as those affecting the heart, liver, thyroid, and kidneys; pregnancy; obesity; sleep apnea; and venous insufficiency, can result in swelling in the legs or feet.

Leg edema can also be brought on by lipedema, or the maldistribution of fat, and lymphedema, or the buildup of protein-rich interstitial fluid.

Medications

Certain drugs, such as steroids, hormone treatments, and antihypertensives, can occasionally exacerbate edema.

Leg and Foot Swelling During Travel - The Cause and Solution
Are you suffering from swollen legs after a long travel? Read on to know the reasons and ways to reduce your swelling.

What are the Common Signs and Symptoms?

If a person has swollen ankles and leg edema due to air travel they may experience the following symptoms:

The leg begins to feel heavy or full
The leg appears swollen
When someone presses the swelling, it leaves a dent (Pitting edema)
Clothing or jewelry on the legs begins to feel tight and uncomfortable
The skin around the swelling feels warm or tight
It becomes harder to move the foot
The surrounding area feels taut, and occasionally there is pain

Swollen ankles may also occur while flying due to DVT and its common symptoms include:

Leg swelling
Leg pain or tenderness
Warm skin and painful to touch
Skin redness surrounding the ankle

Deep Vein Thrombosis
A blood clot (thrombus) in the deep venous system of the leg leads to deep vein thrombosis (DVT). DVT is a major cause of morbidity and mortality.

How to Prevent Air Travel-Induced Leg Swelling?

Pre-flight prevention tips

People who have high-risk medical conditions or who are concerned about developing DVT while traveling ought to consult a healthcare provider. People who may be more susceptible to DVT when flying include those who have just undergone surgery, people with a history of blood clots, pregnant women, and people who use specific medications, such as hormone replacement therapy.

Quiz on Deep Vein Thrombosis
Did you know that prolonged sitting can cause a blood clot? Or if that clot stuck in the lungs death ensues? Learn more about deep vein thrombosis from this ...

Prevention Guidelines During Flight Travel

Keep Hydrated

Drinking more water can help remove excess salt from your body, which can cause fluid retention. The day before and the day of the journey, make sure you hydrate well to avoid being dehydrated from the outset
Cut Down on Salty Foods

On the day of the trip and even the day before, try to stay away from salt as much as possible. Salt can make you retain fluid, which can exacerbate the swelling in your feet
Prefer Compression Socks

When taking a long flight, using compression stockings can help minimize swelling in your legs and feet and lower your risk of blood clots. By exerting pressure on the lower legs, the stockings enhance blood circulation.

Studies reveal the prevention of edema and reduced incidence of venous thromboembolism are associated with wearing graduated compression stockings during flights (2^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Graduated compression stockings as a prophylactic measure in venous thromboembolism and edema of lower limbs triggered by air travel: a systematic review of clinical trials

Go to source)
Leg Strechs

Try to stroll the aisle once per hour or so, especially on longer flights over two hours. Additionally, walking to the restroom might increase blood flow and reduce swelling
Seated Workout

You can strengthen the muscles in your feet even if you are unable to stand and move around. To get your feet moving, point your toes up and down and then side to side. Here, the main goal is to activate your legs, calves, and feet muscles after a prolonged period of inactivity
Aximize Legroom

Your feet will be forced into even more uncomfortable postures that will stop blood circulation if they are crammed into tiny spaces caused by your carry-on luggage. Get your luggage cleared and get enough room for your legs
Avoid Crossing Your Legs

Crossing your legs will not improve your circulation, which is already compromised when you sit for extended periods of time
Adjust Seating Positions

Avoid staying motionless for extended periods of time, as this might lead to increased pressure in your leg veins from the way your legs are positioned when sitting. To prevent staying in one place for an extended period of time, periodically adjust your seating position
Raise Your Feed for Better Blood Flow

Elevating your legs can facilitate better blood flow. Try to raise your feet and legs whenever you can; if no one is sitting next to you, spread out and prop your feet up across the seats
Choose Comfy Footwear

On the days you travel, wear slip-on shoes instead of heels since they are easier to take off and let you exercise or massage your feet

After Flight Recommendations

Many of the same techniques you used to minimize swelling throughout your trip, such as moving about, drinking plenty of water, and donning compression socks, can also be used once you've landed. Additionally, keep an eye on your diet and steer clear of meals with too much sodium because they can potentially contribute to additional edema.

Note: If you experience persistent leg swelling in one leg or if it develops two weeks after a long trip, get medical attention right away. The swelling can indicate DVT or another condition that has to be treated by a doctor.

References:

Formation of edema and fluid shifts during a long-haul flight - (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14642200/)
Graduated compression stockings as a prophylactic measure in venous thromboembolism and edema of lower limbs triggered by air travel: a systematic review of clinical trials - (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8147891/)

Source-Medindia