Is It Normal to Have Swollen Ankles After a Long Flight?  

When you're sitting for hours in a tight airplane seat, your blood doesn't circulate as well as it should - especially in your legs. Gravity pulls fluid down to your feet and ankles, and since you're not walking around much, it just kind of... stays there. That fluid buildup causes swelling, also known as travel edema.

To make things worse, airplane cabins have lower pressure and super dry air, which can dehydrate you. And when you’re dehydrated, your blood vessels can tighten up, making circulation even harder. Combine all of that, and boom—you’ve got swollen feet and ankles. Is this something to worry about?

The Good News

For most people, ankles swollen after flight is totally normal and goes away after a bit of walking, elevating your legs, and hydrating. Swollen ankles after long flight are usually harmless and will go away on their own.

When to Worry

In rare cases, ankles swollen after flight may indicate deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a more dangerous condition that requires medical attention. That’s a blood clot that usually forms in the leg and can be life-threatening if it travels to your lungs.

Here are a few red flags you shouldn’t ignore:

  • Swelling only in one leg

  • Pain or tenderness in your calf

  • Skin that feels warm to the touch

  • Red or discolored skin

  • Swelling that doesn’t go down after a couple of days

If someone is concerned about DVT while flying, they should consult a healthcare expert. They can then identify specific indications and symptoms to watch for. Better safe than sorry.

Even if a person has no signs of DVT, they can develop PE. A pulmonary embolism  is a severe complication. This can produce a blockage in the blood arteries of the lungs. Symptoms may include trouble breathing, an irregular or fast heartbeat, and chest pain. Symptoms may include anxiousness, coughing up blood, lightheadedness, fainting, and blue lips or nails. If you encounter any of these symptoms, you should seek medical attention immediately.

Flight Safety Tips

There are various things a person can do to reduce their risk of edema and DVT while traveling. This includes:

  • To prevent DVT, consider standing up or walking every 2 to 3 hours, using compression stockings, and discussing medication with a doctor if at risk.

A person can also exercise their calf during the voyage by:

  • Lifting and lowering the heels

  • Lifting and lowering toes

  • Tightening and releasing leg muscles

Summary

Ankle swelling is a common occurrence during or after flight. Edema, or fluid buildup, is frequently the cause of this problem. Swollen ankles caused by edema are usually innocuous, and the swelling resolves on its own.

In some other circumstances, swelling ankles may indicate DVT. This is a more dangerous disorder in which blood clots form in deep veins, usually in the legs.

Other DVT symptoms include discomfort, tenderness, and skin discoloration. If a person experiences DVT symptoms or if their ankle swelling persists after flying, they should consult a healthcare expert.

To avoid swelling ankles, a person may choose to wear graduated compression stockings and strengthen their calf muscles while flying.