Q. I’ve booked a holiday and am flying. Am I at risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT)?

A. Lots of people worry about flying for all sorts of reasons. Most people link DVT to flights but its actually the fact that this forms part of a ‘long’ journey. There are conditions which may increase your risk of DVT on journeys of eight hours or more.

These include having a history of DVT or pulmonary embolism, cancer, stroke, heart disease, inherited tendency to clot (thrombophilia), recent surgery, obesity, pregnancy or hormone replacement therapy.

Before you travel, don't leave it until the last minute to buy medication, compression stockings or anything else for your flight.

Wearing compression stockings during journeys of four hours or more can significantly reduce your risk of DVT, as well as leg swelling.

The below-knee stockings apply gentle pressure to the ankle to help blood flow. They come in a variety of sizes and there are also different levels of compression, with the mildest being generally sufficient.

It's vital that compression stockings are measured and worn correctly. Ill-fitting stockings could further increase the risk of DVT.

Flight socks are available from pharmacies, airports and many retail outlets. Take advice on size and proper fitting from a pharmacist or another health professional.

During your journey, wear loose, comfortable clothes. Consider flight socks, walk around whenever you can, drink plenty of water and don't drink alcohol or take sleeping pills. A little bit of planning ensures you can really enjoy that holiday.