Q: Hello Dr, I have been having swollen legs since I traveled almost 17hrs by air. All tests been done, no fault discovered. What shall I do?

A: Hello dear, thanks for writing in.

Swelling of the legs and feet during flights is common and usually not suggestive of a more serious problem. It happens when blood pools in the leg veins due to long periods of inactivity as can occur during a long-haul flight. This swelling usually lasts for a few hours. If the swelling persists, occurs more in one leg and is associated with leg pain, please see your doctor immediately as it may be suggestive of a more serious problem, like a blood clot in the leg.

I repeat a post I made some years back on preparing for flights. It focuses on preventing the condition you already have. However, if you already have swollen legs due…