Anyone who has worn a cast for an extended period of time knows that the body needs to move to stay healthy. Unused muscles atrophy. Joints stiffen.
Immobilization can also lead to blood clots, or Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT), which can be a problem for travelers.
In plain english DVT means blood clots in the large veins that are well below the skin. DVT usually, but not always, occurs in the legs.
If a DVT stays put, it generally causes only minor problems.
Open your U.S passport to page two and you may be surprised by the following warning:
HEALTH INSURANCE. Persons considering foreign travel should determine what health insurance coverage, if any, they require while outside the United States. Medicare does not cover health care costs outside the United States and its territories, except under limited circumstances in Canada and Mexico.
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