Traveling to a new destination can be incredibly thrilling. However, lengthy road trips and flights come with the risk of developing blood clots if you don’t take proper precautions.

So, why do blood clots form in the first place?

Blood clots are a natural way to stop bleeding. Your bone marrow uses stem cells to create red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. When a blood vessel is damaged, platelets, also called thrombocytes, are activated. They collect near the damage, forming a plug to prevent blood loss.

Blot clots also form when blood is unable to comfortably flow through the vessels, such as during long travel. This causes platelets to collect and block proper blood flow, referred to as an embolus. This can lead to pain and swelling.

“There is a two- to four-fold increase in blood clots during prolonged travel, especially any trip greater than four hours,” explains Dr. Paul Silverman, a interventional cardiologist at the Advocate Health Care.

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