asprin?

[babalicious]

not sure whether this is the right section to be in but here we go! i've heard that if you take an asprin before you go on a long haul flight it came help prevent dvt, is this true?

[scubadiver]

Hi. yes, this is apparently true. Aspirin interferes with the clotting process of blood, so should decrease the likelihood of a blood clot causing problems (as in a dvt).

We have been recommended to take an aspirin a day for the 2 or 3 days before flying long haul. ( remember to take aspirin with you for the return journey!!)

[rhona_j]

Apparently a bar of chocolate just before the flight is also good for prevention, although maybe someones just winding me up, but if it means I can have an excuse to eat chocolate, who am I to argue!

[nickmo]

Bit of info here: http://www.ivillage.co.uk/health/hnews/newsarch/articles/0,,181165_591424-2,00.html

[jno]

I think doctors are still dickering over this, but take one anyway, can't do you any harm. Also get a pair of flight socks, which definitely help, according to the latest report: http://www.guardian.co.uk/airlines/story/0,,1756398,00.html

[ugly_bob]

Aspirin thins the blood doesn't it? I'm sure doctors recommend taking it regularly as you get older to help combat high blood pressure.

i know nothing about medicine, so I could be completely wrong on this

[lady_p_gold]

Yes I always take one, and also wear flight socks and walk about a lot .....

[flipflop104]

You're supposed to take it wbout a week running up to a long haul flight as, previously said, aspirin thins the blood (and therefore helps prevent clots).

Also, wear flight socks and make sure you do the exercises recommended by the in-flight TV (usually involved flexing and pointing your feet, and also making circles with your feet) to keep the blood circulating, and walk around once an hour.

[mrsann]

travel quite a bit (at least three long haul + several short hops a year )and my doctor told me to take an aspirin daily for a week before flying as said before remember the return hop Flight socks definately help as for some daft reason my partner and I both forgot to put them on before flying back from Beijing and both of us suffered cramps really badly for several days after.

[sense4all]

It is a different ( lower ) concentration of asprin than is normally sold : make sure you say it is for before a flight, also spotted this week that good old Woolies have started to sell Flight Socks @ about 6-7 quid a pair ... bargain compared with other stores.

[scubadiver]

Being a bit of a pedant here, but just to clarify- aspirin does NOT "thin" the blood.

It acts on platelets, to reduce their "stickyness" or ability to clump together to form clots (specifically by acting as an enzyme inhibitor to block production of thromboxane A-2, normally produced by platelets and which causes them to clump together).

The concern with platelets and DVT is that they will readily attach onto any fatty deposits in veins & arteries and cause clots or clumps. When these break off , especially if they form in the arterial side of the circulation, where blood vessels get smaller as they become capillaries, they may reach a point where they become stuck- this prevents blood flow past the blockage and cuts off oxygen supply to the tissue or organ on the opposite side of the block- especially problematic if that happens to be the brain.

Hence the advice about taking aspirin prior to flying.

[enidblyton]

One Aspirin 75mg is the recommend daily dosage.

[ugly_bob]

scuba - I bow to your superior knowledge - I think I said I knew nowt about medicine.
Personally, whenever I fly, i sleep from approx 20mins after takeoff til landing. P$sses me off when I fly BA cos the booze is free.
Imagine it.
4Hr flight. Free booze all the way. And I cant do anything except sleep!

[scubadiver]

HI Bob- I'm the opposite- even if I'm completely and utterly knackered, I can't sleep during the flight- too nosey and scared I miss something I guess!! - I obviously then have to partake of any trolley service- It's a cross I have to bear :-)

[peachy3]

take it bout a week previous 1 per day & through ur hols for the flight back