Which strategy is recommended to prevent venous thromboembolism on long flights?

• A. Hydration only
• B. Prolonged immobility
• C. Regular movement, calf exercises, compression stockings, hydration, and avoiding prolonged immobility
• D. Hydration with no movement

Answer: (C)

On long flights, sitting for hours slows blood flow in the legs, which can lead to venous pooling and clotting. The best prevention combines several actions that work together to keep blood moving and reduce stasis: regular movement and calf exercises activate the leg muscle pumps to push blood back toward the heart; compression stockings provide external pressure to limit pooling; staying hydrated helps maintain blood volume and flow; and avoiding prolonged immobility keeps the veins from remaining stagnant. Hydration alone misses the crucial step of moving blood, and moving without support or avoiding immobility by itself doesn’t fully prevent pooling. Together, these measures offer the most effective protection against flight-related venous thromboembolism.