Vascular surgeon names the common driving mistake that …

A US-based vascular surgeon has issued a stark warning about a dangerous driving habit many people overlook, saying it could lead to a fatal blood clot if you’re not careful.

Dr Rema Malik, who has become a trusted voice online for her realistic and science-backed wellness advice, said one of the biggest health risks stems from sitting too long behind the wheel.

In a recent videoDr Malik told her 44,000 followers that the ‘I just want to get there’ mentality during long drives can be deadly.

‘It sounds dramatic, but as a vascular surgeon, I see the consequences,’ she said.

According to Dr Malik, the problem lies in what she calls the body’s ‘second heart’: the calf muscles.

When people move they act as a natural pump, pushing blood from the legs back up to the heart. When sitting, that system completely shuts down.

‘When you’re sitting still in a car for hours, that ‘second heart’ is turned off. Blood flow slows down dramatically (and) it begins to pool in your lower legs, becoming stagnant and thick,’ she explained.

‘This is the perfect recipe for a Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) – a blood clot in your leg.’

A DVT isn’t just painful, it can be life-threatening. If the clot breaks free and travels to the lungs, it can cause a pulmonary embolism, which can be fatal within minutes.

Dr Malik said helping to prevent it is simple, but only if drivers make regular rest stops a non-negotiable on their journeys.

‘Stopping isn’t just for snacks or the restroom, it’s a medical intervention,’ she urged, recommending a five-minute rest stop protocol that includes three easy steps: walking, stretching and hydrating.

By walking just two to three minutes it will immediately reactivate your ‘second heart’ and get any stagnant blood in the legs moving.

When it comes to stretching only 30 seconds is required, and it can be as simple as some calf raises.

‘Stand and lift up onto your toes, then lower,’ said Dr Malik. ‘This powerfully contracts the muscle and pumps the blood.’

And like anything, staying well hydrated helps enormously as dehydration makes blood thicker and more prone to clotting.

She ended her post with a powerful reminder for anyone who tends to push through long drives without stopping.

‘Your destination can wait. Your health can’t. Don’t let a preventable problem change your life forever,’ she said.

Followers were quick to flood her comments section with appreciation and anecdotes with many agreeing they follow this pattern when driving long distances.

‘My bladder helps me stop every two hours anyway so I’m good,’ another joked.

Dr Malik credits these small, consistent actions like these for keeping people healthy in the long run.

In another recent post she also talked about how a simple change in sleep position can support circulation and help prevent serious vein problems for women before and during pregnancy.

She explained that while carrying an unborn baby, a woman’s blood volume can increase by up to 50 per cent, which puts enormous pressure on the valves in the legs.

For many, this can result in painful varicose veins, a feeling of constant heaviness, swelling, and even dangerous blood clots like DVT.

Her advice is to get used to sleeping on your left side before you fall pregnant.

While it may sound like a minor adjustment, the vascular surgeon explained that the position you sleep in can significantly impact blood flow, particularly in the second and third trimesters.

‘The IVC (inferior vena cava) is located on the right side, so by sleeping on the left side there is reduction in uterine compression of the IVC, especially in the second and third trimesters.

The inferior vena cava is the body’s largest vein, carrying blood from the lower half of the body back to the heart.

As the uterus grows, especially in later pregnancy, it can press on this major vessel if a woman sleeps on her back or right side.

This pressure can slow circulation, increase swelling and discomfort, and in some cases contribute to low blood pressure or reduced blood flow to the baby.

By shifting onto the left side, women can effectively take pressure off the IVC, supporting healthier blood return and easing strain on their veins.

Dr Malik recommends starting this habit before pregnancy, so the body is already used to the position by the time it matters most.