Travel

Don’t Die from DVT on your Next Vacation

Published

6 months ago

October 10, 2022

A long airplane trip can be deadly and not because of a possible plane crash or terrorist attack, instead a hidden killer awaits. Deep vein thrombosis or DVT is a silent killer that affects 2 million American yearly, according to the Heart Institute of America. Of those 2 million affected, nearly 200,000 die from DVT. That’s 200,000 completely preventable deaths and who knows, maybe it could be you next.

Sitting for long periods of time is the major cause of DVT. You don’t have to be traveling for DVT to strike, so use these helpful tips all the time to stay alive.

Blood clots form in the lower leg veins and are sent up towards the heart and brain. If just one of these clots makes its way into the brain you can have a stroke. If a blood clot makes their way into the heart, you could have cardiac arrest. And if the clot makes its way into your lungs or other organ, you can have serious and permanent damage to said organ.

Be on the lookout for symptoms of DVT like pain, tenderness, swelling, redness and increased warmth in a leg. Its best to consult a doctor immediately if any of these symptoms occur. If you have a history of blood clots, heart disease or cancer, it’s best to consult your doctor before going on long excursions.

DVT is a far too common way that travelers die and it’s completely preventable, with some easy habits.

Imagine if you will, an innocent vacation and a long flight could result in your death or serious injury. Your body isn’t supposed to sit in the same position for long periods of time and this immobility can cause blood clots to materialize by having blood flow reduced to certain areas, usually the lower legs. Here are some easy and helpful tips t keep your blood from clotting and your risk of DVT to a minimum. Don’t die on vacation, instead live and enjoy life to the fullest.

Walk

A good rule to literally live by is get up and walk every two hours. So, if you are on an 8-hour airplane trip, get up at least 4 times. A quick stroll down the aisle and a few simple stretches can save your life. Try a few toe touches and light kicks to get the blood flowing and keep those pesky clots away.

Don’t sleep for more than 4 hours

Remember, this is when you are in route and not while on vacation. When you are on a plane, car or train, try not to sleep for more than four hours at a time. In between naps, try and take a short walk or stretch your legs to keep the clots at bay. Once you get to your destination, you can sleep your normal time in a bed, the clots form when you are in seated position.

Drink water

It’s always important to stay hydrated but more so when traveling. Your body will be put to extreme limits when in transit, so keep the water flowing and you should be OK.

Wear loose clothing

This is important to keep the blood flowing normally. Tight waist bands and other articles of clothing can pinch arteries and restrict blood flow, which is a breeding ground for blood clots.

Eat light meals

Don’t eat heavy meals and keep your caloric intake to a minimum while traveling. A heavy stomach in a seated position can put pressure on blood flow. It’s always better to eat healthy when traveling; this also helps with jet lag.

Limit alcohol consumption

Alcohol isn’t great for our bodies and it affects everyone differently; if you think you may be at risk, then maybe don’t drink on you trip.

Compression socks

If you are elderly or have circulation issues, try wearing a pair of compression socks. These will help with your circulation and keep the blood clots from forming in the first place.

Seated exercises

If getting up every two hours isn’t possible, try a few easy exercises you can do seated. Put both legs out straight and move your feet in circles. Try pulling your knees as close to your chest as possible and hold for 15 seconds.

Just by following these few simple steps, you can prevent Deep Vein Thrombosis. No one wants to die on your way to vacation; on your way to work is another story altogether.

Photos courtesy of speedyremedies, infobarrel, snopes, michiganVeinCare

Check out the full article on Health.com

Travel

Protect Your Skin The Next Time You Travel

Travel can be terrible on your skin. So be smart on your next vacation and keep your beautiful skin hydrated and healthy.

Published

16 hours ago

March 30, 2023

Loren Thorn

If you’re anything like me, you spend the entire week after a vacation taking care of your badly damaged skin. Whether it’s the pressure in the plane, the change in climate, or just the overall stress of traveling, vacation can be terrible for your skin!

But have no fear, Jetlaggin is here! And we’ve got all the tips and tricks you need to keep your skin healthy and fresh on your next vacation. So read up, take some notes, and say goodbye to dry and flaky skin the week after a vacation!

DRINK PLENTY OF WATER

Honestly, if you don’t know this by now, I don’t know what to do for you. Obviously, drinking plenty of water is good for your skin regardless of if you’re on vacation or not. But one thing that happens when you travel, you tend to drink more caffeine and alcohol than usual. And they both cause some serious dehydration.

But we wouldn’t dare tell you to stop drinking either! All we’re saying is, just make sure you drink lots and lots of water in addition. Get yourself a cool new water bottle while you’re at it. It will make the whole thing that much more fun for you. And your skin will thank you later!

PACK THAT CARRY-ON WITH SKIN PRODUCTS

While drinking lots of water is good for hydrating internally, you don’t want to forget to hydrate externally. I’m talking moisturizer, people! Those pressurized airplanes can really mess with your skin. So keep some facial mist and some moisturizing cream handy at all times.

And don’t you dare forget about those lips! There are plenty of great lip balms and lip repair products out there for your lip protection needs.

DON’T FORGET THAT ALL-IMPORTANT SPF

When most people think about traveling, they think about airports, airplanes, buses, hotel rooms, saunas, etc, etc. Notice anything similar about all those places? They’re all indoors! But you know what also happens on most vacations? Spending time outside! So don’t make the deadly mistake of forgetting to put on your sunscreen.

In addition to literally protecting your skin from the sun’s harmful rays, it also does wonders for keeping your skin hydrated. Don’t be shy either. Just go for it and get yourself that SPF 50. Your skin deserves it!

Travel

Road Trip! European Edition

Road trips and European vacations are pretty much the two best kinds of vacations out there. So why not combine the two?!

Published

2 days ago

March 29, 2023

Loren Thorn

Everyone loves a good road trip. There’s just something about getting the hell out of town and hitting the open road that makes you feel alive. But it can also be a fun and entertaining element of a European vacation! Here are some of the best road trip options in all of Europe.

GERMAN ALPINE ROAD, GERMANY

If you’ve ever been a fan of The Sound of Music, then this is the European road trip for you! The incredible combination of snow-peaked mountains and lush greenery will have you shaking your head in amazement every mile along the way. Some of the highlights include King Ludwig’s castle, Lake Constance, and Benediktbeuern Abbey.

RING ROAD, ICELAND

Thanks to its breathtaking views and delightfully cold weather, Iceland is quickly becoming one of the hottest vacation destinations in all of Europe. And if you want to get a road trip in while you’re there, Ring Road is the place to go. This whole trip can be done in just about 12-14 hours but has plenty of amazing volcanoes, icebergs, and hot springs along the way.

ITALIAN LAKES AND THE DOLOMITES, ITALY

What else can you say about Italy at this point? It’s just an incredible country that everyone needs to experience at least once. And what better way to do it that with a countryside road trip! This one is best enjoyed when given ample time, even as much as a full week. There are countless perfect lakes and quaint as they come villages along the drive. Just be sure to do it in the summer, and the area starts to see snow in the fall.

RING OF KERRY, IRELAND

Similar to Iceland, Ireland is a very popular vacation destination these days thanks to its incredible views and bundle-up-worthy weather. Sure, there are great Irish cities like Dublin, but if you really want to experience Ireland you should hit the Ring of Kerry in the southern part of the country. It’s only about 180 miles long, but you’ll see enough waterfalls, mountains, and castles to make you feel like you really did Ireland right.

AIX-EN-PROVENCE TO CASTELLANE, FRANCE

It’s no surprise that France is a beautiful and vacation-worthy country. But the drive from Aix-en-Provence to Castellane is rarely talked about as a must-see… and it should be. The incredible fields of lavender alone make it beyond worth it, but then once you’ve made it to the unbelievable beauty of Verdon Gorge you’ll be happy with your choice. Just be prepared, some of the mountain passes include some very narrow and winding roads!

NORTH COAST 500, SCOTLAND

This route is named as such because it covers a whopping 516 miles. But nearly every one of them is worth it if you want to have a great road trip experience during your trip to Scotland. You’ll catch plenty of lochs, mountains, rolling glens, and, of course, a few castles. There are even some amazing whiskey distilleries along the way. But you stop in one of those be sure you’re just grabbing some whiskey for later when you’re not driving.

Travel

Spend a Day With Nature: The Camping Trip Essentials You Should Always Pack

Published

3 days ago

March 28, 2023

Adam T

Getting out into the great outdoors is one of the best ways to become in tune with nature.

Going off the beaten path and finding your own campsite is a great way to unplug and unwind after a stressful week of work.

Although camping is fun, never go unprepared. Keep reading to discover our ultimate list of camping trip essentials you should always pack on your campaign trips.

Bathroom Essentials

No matter where you end up camping you’re going to need to use the bathroom and wash up. Be sure to pack the following:

Toothbrush & toothpaste
Shampoo, conditioner & body wash
Towel & washcloth
Toilet paper
Hand soap

Depending on where you end up camping they may have restrooms, but if not it’s always good to be prepared with extras of everything. This camping towel is great because it dries quickly so you don’t have to worry as much about whether your towel is going to be ready for you when you’re ready for it.

Sleeping and Resting Equipment

If this is your first camping trip you may not be considering where you’re sleeping, but you definitely need to. Do you need a tent or sleeping bag? Are you sleeping in an RV or another camper?

Make sure you pack at least a sleeping bag, a pillow, and maybe even an extra blanket if you expect it to be cold while you’re camping.

Types of Food and Drinks to Bring

Unless you’re truly roughing it and hunting to eat, you should also pack camping trip food essentials. Bring items that don’t have to be heated to eat, and are also non-perishable. Check out these easy camping meals and expect to do some meal prepping before you head out.

Don’t forget your water either. Bringing a case of water bottles would be heavy, and isn’t environmentally friendly. Instead, get a filtered water bottle that you can easily fill up and use over and over again while you’re camping.

Electronic Essentials

While you may be camping to get off the grid it’s important to have safety electronics on hand in case of emergencies. Bring your cell phone with you and grab a solar-powered charger so you can keep it ready to go.

Don’t forget that it’s going to get dark at night too. Get yourself a reliable battery powered lantern with extra batteries. You’ll be happy you did this when you’re walking to the bathroom in the middle of the night.

Depending on where you are you may not have any cell service so it’s also a good idea to bring a set of walkie-talkies. This way you’ll always have a sure way to reach either the people you’re with or emergency services.

Get Your Camping Trip Essentials Today

Now that you know our ultimate list of camping trip essentials plan a trip today! This camping trip essentials list will ensure you have the best camping trip possible.

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