A Briggs Passport & Visa Expeditors

A recent study of business travelers shows definitively there is a risk of dangerous blod clots for persons traveling on long flights and frequent flyers who travel for longer periods of time.

Sitting still for long periods can cause a condition called deep vein thrombosis (D.V.T.). The study found that people who fly four hours or more have three times the risk of developing clots compared with periods when they did not travel.

D.V.T. occurs when a blood clot forms within the large deep veins of the body, usually in the leg. President Nixon had this condition during the time he was president. The NBC reporter David Bloom died of this condition during the U.S. invasion of Iraq because he had been standing for several days in a vehicle. In the condition, part of the clot can break off and travel to the lungs and cause a pulmonary embolism, a serious and potentially fatal condition.

The researchers, Frits R. Rosendaal and Suzanne C. Cannegieter of Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands, tracked over 8,000 employees of large international organizations over a multi-year period. The results were published in the online journal PLoS Medicine; preliminary findings were reported in late June by the World Health Organization.

“We now know out of 4,500 people who fly, one will get a D.V.T. within eight weeks after travel,” Dr. Cannegieter said. The risk increases with the length and number of a flights in a short period.

Michael G. Reiff, a U.S. executive with Royal Dutch Shell, was hospitalized with D.V.T. after a flight from Houston to Amsterdam. Mr. Reiff, 53, took long flights almost 50 percent of the time and flew first or business class. He has since cut his flying time almost in half and no longer sleeps on planes. “Now I literally walk up and down the aisles.” At work, “I walk the halls every two hours, even at meetings,” Mr. Reiff said.

Rochelle Broome, corporate medical director for primary care at CHD Meridian Healthcare, recommends employees do frequent seat exercises to ensure increased blood circulation. “You don’t have to take a pill. There’s no shot. It’s easy,” said Dr. Broome, who experienced D.V.T.’s herself.

D.V.T. typically includes unexplained pain, tenderness, redness and swelling, often in the leg. Once a clot has traveled to the lung, common symptoms include chest pain and breathing difficulties. Some cases are asymptomatic or mirror other illnesses. For example, leg pain can be mistaken for a strained muscle and chest pain is often misdiagnosed as a heart attack or the flu.

Aspirin, which is effective in preventing heart attacks and strokes, does not lessen the danger of D.V.T. The researchers warned against wearing commercial compression stockings, which are effective only if custom fit; otherwise, they can have a negative effect by blocking blood flow. Also discouraged is the excessive intake of alcohol and use of sleeping pills because they promote immobility.

————————————————

Planning a trip? Is your passport up to date? Click here to order a visa and check the requirements for entry.

So you are traveling to a destination for a one week or two week vacation and have two bags. What to do? What if it is lost? Do I want to worry about it?

Well, why not ship it UPS overnight. It’s not cheap but you can bet that it gets there and will be waiting you when you arrive. And you don’t have to carry it to the car or taxi, to the airport, through check in, through security, pick it up upon arrival, take it to the car/taxi and finally to the hotel.

If you ship it UPS (our favorite carrier for friendly service and reliability and price, unlike FedEx), they come to your door and carry it to the truck. You put your basics in a back pack and your on your way. You arrive at the hotel and your luggage is waiting.

And what the heck, since I’m doing that, I’ll carry a few more things that I might want to wear but wouldn’t carry if I had to carry it all.

Want to know more? You can look into luggageforward.com who’ll do it all for you.

A

————————————————

Planning a trip? Is your passport up to date? Click here to order a visa and check the requirements for entry.

So you are traveling to a destination for a one week or two week vacation and have two bags. What to do? What if it is lost? Do I want to worry about it?

Well, why not ship it UPS overnight. It’s not cheap but you can bet that it gets there and will be waiting you when you arrive. And you don’t have to carry it to the car or taxi, to the airport, through check in, through security, pick it up upon arrival, take it to the car/taxi and finally to the hotel.

If you ship it UPS (our favorite carrier for friendly service and reliability and price, unlike FedEx), they come to your door and carry it to the truck. You put your basics in a back pack and your on your way. You arrive at the hotel and your luggage is waiting.

And what the heck, since I’m doing that, I’ll carry a few more things that I might want to wear but wouldn’t carry if I had to carry it all.

Want to know more? You can look into luggageforward.com who’ll do it all for you.

A

————————————————

Planning a trip? Is your passport up to date? Click here to order a visa and check the requirements for entry.

By Barbara Wade

Look to all four corners of the globe and you’ll find the world has gone pet crazy. Once upon a time, a feline friend or canine kid was considered a family member.

Today, they have achieved the level of status symbol. With stars such as Paris Hilton and Oprah Winfrey making their love of pets widely known, it is becoming significantly more common to find a local, pet-friendly hotel: Monaco to Memphis and Paris to Portland. Luxury hotel accommodations are even readily available for those who wish to pamper their four-legged babies.

Traditional Lodging for Pets

In years past, neighbors or family members traditionally shared the care of pets when owners left town. As the need for quality pet care grew, kennels began to sprout worldwide. These facilities generally offered basic shelter and food for dogs and cats. A wire kennel only big enough
to turn around in, along with food and water bowls served as the accommodations for boarded pets. Wanting better for their loved ones, pet parents continued to make their wishes for care known and thus, luxury pet lodges were born.

As appealing as this option is, what many owners really wanted was to simply take their pets with them when they traveled. Providing that option, along with many pet amenities, is the fundamental premise behind a truly pet-friendly hotel. Monaco, Rome and countless other
cosmopolitan destinations, for example, have pet-friendly hotels that allow guests to house pets in their rooms. While a much better option for some than leaving pets behind, other hotels go miles farther to make the pets’ visit as outstanding as the owners’.

Amenities for Pets

Right here in the U.S., pets can receive exceptional treatment when traveling with their families. For example, one Portland luxury hotel has a K-9 Director of Pet Relations whose job it is to make all pet-guests feel right at home. This social golden retriever named Art ensures that all pets - and their owners - understand the amenities available to pets, including a food bowl with coordinating mat, dog bed, complimentary dog treats, bottled spring water and dispose-a-scoop cleaning supplies.

Scheduling a massage for yourself? Don’t forget your pet. Canine and feline massage specialists are on staff to de-stress your pet after a long day of travel. While you’re at the hotel fitness center, your pet can enjoy a delightful stroll around the block at the hands of a trained professional. While you and your family are out with business or sightseeing during the day, your pet can visit with a pet sitter so loneliness and boredom don’t set in.

When booking pet-friendly hotels, be sure you ask about extras such as deposits or additional cleaning fees. You’ll also want to inquire about weight limits imposed on dogs and other pets.

Luxury doesn’t have to be for humans alone. When you travel with your family, bring everyone along - pets and all. With the luxurious accommodations available for pets, there is no reason the entire family can’t enjoy a vacation together.

————————————————

Planning a trip? Is your passport up to date? Click here to order or renew your passport.

About The Author:

Barbara Wade writes articles for the newly renovated Hotel Monaco Portland luxury hotel. With well-appointed accommodations and innovative pet programs, the Hotel Monaco offers a convenient, central location.

By Dawn Orbeck

Every year, thousands of families bring their pets along on their vacations. Some feel as if their pets are part of their families, and don’t want to leave them behind. For others, there is simply no one at home to watch the pet, no funds available for boarding, or the trip was a spur-of-the-moment plan and there was no time to consider anything else except to bring the pet along.

Of course before you head out the door with your pet, there are some things to consider like accommodations, because not all hotels, motels, campgrounds and other lodgings accepts pets. So go through this checklist before you hit the road so you don’t have to leave your cat or dog in an unsafe environment.

Do Some Research & Confirmation Work

Check popular campground guidebooks, hotel, motel and other lodge listing research work to see which places accept pets. Then call ahead to confirm, as most print publications went to press at least a year ahead of time, and places may have changed hands or ownership status along with their pet policies. Find out if the location charges extra per night, plus if there are deposits and if there are any size requirements (for example, do they accept large dogs).

Portable Pet Kennels

Many pets ride fine in automobiles. However, some do not. Plus you may be traveling part way by airplane, bus or other means, and not only that, once you reach your destination, pet kennels turn into pet beds, making safe havens for your furry friends each night away from home. So
you might want to check out portable pet kennels.

For airline travel with pets, call ahead to the specific airlines you’ll be using for exact details and requirements for traveling with pets. On some fights, you need to have given your animal food and water roughly 2 hours before take off, so you’ll want to check for exact details to see what your pet will need and the size carrier that’s allowed, etc. Some smaller ones for cats and small dogs may be allowed under the seat, so ask.

Fido’s Belongings

When you are vacationing with your cat or dog, pack a favorite toy or two, blanket or pillow, and any special things it may need, just as you would your own. Don’t forget some pet food, of course, plus some snacks or treats. And if your pet may need medication of any kind, bring along
any medicines and / or any pet vitamins, etc. that might be needed. And as an added precaution, bring along the phone number of your vet, in case there is an emergency.

————————————————

Planning a trip? Is your passport up to date? Click here to order or renew your passport.
About The Author:

This article was written by Dawn Orbeck of the Coastal Vacations Blog. For more info, call Dawn on 810-895-4408.