Travel day habits can also contribute to feet swelling, says Todd Taylor, MD, an associate professor at Emory University’s department of emergency medicine. As a result, blood may pool in your feet, leading to swelling, medically known as edema. When sitting, the muscles that help pump fluid out of your legs are not active, says Timothy Ford, a doctor of podiatric medicine and an associate professor in the department of orthopedics at the University of Louisville School of Medicine. “Also, the position you are sitting in, with your legs bent, increases the pressure on the veins and increases swelling.” “The longer you are sitting still, the more gravity pulls fluid down to your feet and ankles,” she explains. It comes down to inactivity during flights, says Lauren Wurster, a doctor of podiatric medicine and an Arizona-based podiatrist and spokesperson for the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA). Here, three doctors share their tips on how to avoid swollen feet and ankles during air travel and what you can do if you do experience some swelling. Luckily, there are things you can do to prevent it. And although leg and foot swelling during air travel is common and typically harmless, per the Mayo Clinic, it can still put an uncomfortable damper on your travel plans. When you fly, you're trapped in a tiny seat in an enclosed area without much room to move - so it’s no wonder you may land with swollen feet.
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