DonateSign Up

Driving

Many APS patients are concerned about their safety to drive and whether they need to declare their condition to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).

Despite the DVLA listing a vast number of health conditions that you have to declare, antiphospholipid syndrome is not included. We have listed here the possible conditions the DVLA recognises which can arise from having APS and what you need to do:

  • Blood clots
  • Cognitive problems
  • Dizziness/Vertigo
  • Eye conditions
  • Heart attack/angioplasty
  • Heart valve disease or replacement valve
  • Kidney problems
  • Memory problems (severe)
  • Fits, seizures or convulsions
  • Stroke
  • Mini-stroke/Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA)

Please remember that the law requires you to tell the DVLA about any condition that may affect your ability to drive safely. If you are involved in an accident and it is found that your health condition was a contributing factor, you may be prosecuted and your insurance may not be valid.

Blood clots and driving

If you hold any type of vehicle licence, you will not need to tell the DVLA that you have had a blood clot in the limbs (Deep Vein Thrombosis) or lung (Pulmonary Embolism). You must tell DVLA if you have a blood clot in the brain. Please visit the GOV.UK website and download form B1/B1V.

Cognitive problems and driving

If you hold any type of vehicle licence, you will need to tell the DVLA that you have cognitive problems. Please visit the GOV.UK website and download form CG1.

Dizziness and driving

If you hold any type of vehicle licence, you will need to tell the DVLA that you suffer from dizziness or vertigo. Please visit the GOV.UK website and download form DIZ1/DIZ1V.

Eye conditions and driving

You need to tell DVLA about any of the following eye conditions if you have a car or motorcycle licence, even if it is only in one eye. You need to tell DVLA about any of the following eye conditions if you have a bus, coach or lorry licence, even if it is only in one eye. Please visit the GOV.UK website and download form V1/V1V.

Heart attack, angioplasty, and driving

If you have a car or motorcycle licence, you will not need to tell the DVLA you have had a heart attack. However, you should stop driving for at least one month and only restart when your doctor tells you it is safe to do so. Anyone with a bus, coach or lorry licence will automatically have to inform the DVLA. Please visit the GOV.UK website and download form VOCH1.

Heart valve disease and driving

If you have a car or motorcycle licence, you will not need to tell the DVLA you have heart valve problems. You should stop driving for at least one month and only restart driving when your doctor tells you it’s safe. Anyone with a bus, coach or lorry licence will automatically have to inform the DVLA. Please visit the GOV.UK website and download form VOCH1.

Kidney problems and driving

If you have a car or motorcycle licence, you will not need to tell the DVLA you have kidney problems. Anyone with a bus, coach or lorry licence will automatically have to inform the DVLA. Please visit the GOV.UK website and download form K1V.

Memory problems (severe) and driving

If you hold any type of vehicle licence, you will need to tell the DVLA that you suffer from severe memory problems. Please visit the GOV.UK website and download form CG1.

Fits, seizures or convulsions and driving

You must tell DVLA if you have fits, seizures or convulsions – this applies to all licence holders. Please visit the GOV.UK website and download the questionnaire FEP1/FEP1V.

Stroke and driving

If you have a car or motorcycle licence and are not suffering from any residual problems after a month from having your stroke, you will not need to tell the DVLA about your medical condition. However, if you are still experiencing problems, then you will need to let them know. Anyone with a bus, coach or lorry licence will automatically have to inform the DVLA. Please visit the GOV.UK website and download questionnaire STR1/STR1V.

Transient Ischaemic Attacks (TIAs) and driving

You must stop driving for at least one month after a transient ischaemic attack (TIA) or mini-stroke. This includes amaurosis fugax or retinal artery fugax. You can restart only when your doctor tells you it is safe. Anyone with a bus, coach or lorry licence must stop driving for at least one year after a TIA. You can restart only when your doctor tells you it is safe. You must tell DVLA if you had a transient ischaemic attack or mini-stroke. This includes amaurosis fugax or retinal artery fugax. Please visit the GOV.UK website and download questionnaire STR1/STR1V.

Life insurance

While travel insurance may cover individuals with APS, obtaining life insurance with an APS diagnosis can prove challenging.

Providers may automatically reject an application for a pre-existing condition such as APS, and other policies may be unaffordable…

Women's health

Women who are taking antithrombotics such as aspirin, warfarin or especially DOACs may experience problems with increased bleeding.

Heavy blood loss can be extremely inconvenient and uncomfortable, and it can also cause iron deficiency anaemia…

Medication

The type of medication you can take to treat other conditions will depend on the type of treatment you are prescribed for APS.

You must let your GP/pharmacist know if you buy any over-the-counter medicines to check for contraindications…

Diet

Anyone with APS is advised to eat a healthy balanced diet of good carbohydrates, protein, low-fat dairy products and fruit and vegetables.

Maintaining a healthy weight is important both in terms of reducing cardiovascular risks and easing pressure on your bones and joints…

Stopping smoking

Smoking is even more dangerous if you have APS because it causes cardiovascular disease.

Smoking accelerates the hardening and narrowing of your arteries, which means you are two to four times more likely to develop a blood clot…

Exercise

There are no specific guidelines for people with APS, as the level of exercise you are capable of will depend on how your symptoms affect you.

Many people with APS lead extremely active lives and continue playing sports, while others are much more restricted…

Coping with fatigue

Most patients with APS will find they suffer from fatigue at some point. Fortunately, the fatigue does not tend to be constant and many people find they have good and bad days.

Fatigue is characterised by a lack of energy and motivation…

Managing memory problems

Many people with APS will have some degree of memory loss and difficulty in thinking clearly; the sensation has been described as ‘brain fog’.

Memory loss can range from mild, such as difficulty finding words and absent-minded forgetfulness, to severe…

Dealing with stress

Living with APS can be mentally and physically challenging, with potential psychological consequences.

The condition’s unpredictable nature and serious complications can leave you feeling shocked, angry, depressed, and frustrated…

Air travel

Air travel is closely associated with deep vein thrombosis (DVT), particularly long-haul flights.

The number of people who get DVT from air travel is difficult to determine, simply because the condition can be symptomless and may not occur for some time after travel…

Patient stories

We are thankful to all the APS patients who have bravely shared their stories with us, to help raise awareness and to show others that they are not alone.

Learn More

Diagnosis and treatment

APS is usually diagnosed from a combination of a positive blood test and symptoms. If you are under 50 and have suffered a thrombosis, or have had more than one pregnancy loss, you should discuss with your doctor whether you need blood tests.

Learn More

Related conditions

Some people with APS will also have other autoimmune conditions, as may their family members. APS has been linked with many other autoimmune conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, Raynaud’s phenomenon, and Sjögren’s syndrome.

Learn More

Newly diagnosed

Receiving a new diagnosis of APS can be frightening, and no doubt you will want to know exactly what APS is. Following this, you will likely have a great many more questions to ask about the condition and how it can affect you. We are here to help!

Learn More

About us

We're here for you

Our mission is to achieve earlier diagnosis and offer support to anyone affected by antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) through awareness, education and research.

Learn More

We need all of the support that we can get

Make a donation

Why not join us and help make a difference?

Become a subscriber