If you’re a regular traveller, there’s a common mistake you might be making every time you fly.

Air travel involves numerous safety checks, such as ensuring your seat is in an upright position and all window blinds are raised for take-off.

However, one surgeon has highlighted a “big” error that could be occurring as your body contends with “a different battle inside a pressurised tube”.

Rema Malik, a board-certified vascular surgeon based in Texas, US, believes the internal ‘turbulence’ within our bodies is more concerning than any external turbulence experienced during flight.

Addressing her 91,400 Instagram followers, she emphasised three crucial actions to always undertake on a flight.

She stated: “There is a big mistake you are making when you fly and no one talks about how to prevent it.

“While you are stressing about packing gifts and catching connections, your body is fighting a different battle inside that pressurised tube.

“As a vascular surgeon, I don’t worry about the turbulence outside the plane. I worry about the ‘turbulence’ happening inside your veins.”

Discussing the “3-hit combo” which can lead to a blood clot, the surgeon asserted that prolonged sitting can inhibit your “second heart”, also known as your calf muscles.

She added: “Without movement, blood stops pumping up and starts pooling down.”

Another contributing factor is the cabin air, which is “drier than the Sahara Desert”. She cautioned this can rapidly dehydrate you, causing your blood to become thicker and more viscous.

And thirdly, the pressure can cause your veins to dilate. This stretches the valves, making them less efficient at combating gravity.

So what does the surgeon recommend?

Firstly, don the “armour” which is compression socks that can mechanically direct blood flow and prevent swelling. Put them on before you depart, Rema advised.

It’s also vital to consume 8oz of water for every hour you’re airborne, coffee and wine doesn’t count.

Lastly, the “pump” check to which the surgeon explained: “Every 30 minutes, do 30 ankle pumps. Pretend you are pressing a gas pedal. This manually activates the calf muscle to clear stagnant blood.”

She concluded: “The truth: You wouldn’t drive a car without oil. Don’t fly a body without circulation.”

So the next time you’re travelling, ensure you carry out these crucial checks to maintain optimal health during a flight.