Air travel involves being trapped in a small
seat within an enclosed area with no room to stretch. Due to this, one may get swollen
feet. However, there are several ways to prevent your feet from swelling by
ensuring there is enough blood flowing to and from your feet.
While sitting, the muscles used for pumping
fluid from the legs are inactive. Due to this, blood starts to pool inside the
feet, causing swelling.
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| Image Courtesy :Pixabay |
Steps for preventing swollen feet:
When you are traveling, it is extremely
important that you take the steps to get the blood flowing. Here are a few tips
that help promote foot health.
1. Keep a check on your diet. On the day of
travel and a day before that, make sure you avoid salt. Salt causes fluid retention,
making your feet swell.
2. Drink a lot of water. Make sure you drink a
lot of water a day before the trip to avoid dehydration. Keep a water bottle
during the entire journey, and refill as needed for hydration. Apart from
keeping you hydrated, it will also ensure you get up and walk to the toilet when
nature calls.
3. Get up. Walk around numerous times when in
the flight. Walk up and down the passageways, for getting your blood flowing. Make
sure you do this many time each hour for preventing any swelling in the legs
and feet. Stand and move around particularly if your flight is over two hours
long.
4. Keep all the bags overhead. In case you have
less foot space, keep your carry-on bags inside the overhead bin. This will
ensure your legs are not cramped into difficult positions, cutting off the
supply of blood.
5. Book an aisle seat. If possible, get an aisle
seat. It is a lot easier to get up and walk, with more room to stretch your
feet every once in a while. Emergency row and bulkhead seats provide the best room
for stretching the legs.
6. Massage your feet: take your shoes off and give
your feet a rub. Foot massage helps in stimulating blood flow and averting
swelling.
7. Foot exercises. Even at times when you can't
walk around or get up, you can move the foot muscles. Get your feet moving by
pointing your toes from side to side, up and down. In case you have swollen feet
already, exercising them can help correct the blood flow.
8. Avoid crossing your legs. The blood
circulation is already sluggish when you stay seated for hours, so make sure
you do not end up cutting it off by keeping your legs crossed.
9. Keep the feet elevated. Make sure you keep the
feet lifted up for stimulating circulation. If you have no one sitting close to
you, stretch and prop the feet up diagonally to the seats. You can also prop
your feet at the seat’s foot bar.
Make sure your body is well prepared for the
long plane ride, and avoid sleeping during the entire flight. Exercise is
extremely important during long journeys— even while you are sitting cramped up
in your seat. If you still face swollen feet after the journey, seek advice
from a podiatrist.
