Is your heart ready to take flight?

Let your heart not skip a beat. If you are a heart patient, follow these instructions before boarding a flight.

Most people with a stable heart disease that is monitored and controlled should have no problem travelling; however, travel is not recommended for people with uncontrolled angina, abnormal heart arrhythmia, or uncontrolled congestive heart failure (CHF).

Cardiac incidents occur only in one to two patients per million, during air travel. However, some heart patients need to avoid flying, at least temporarily, because of the increased risk posed by being confined to a high-altitude (and therefore low-oxygen) compartment. (Airplane cabins are pressurised to the equivalent of approximately 10,000 feet above sea level.)

Once you’ve notified your doctor of your travel plans, it is a good idea to document the following medical information:

List of all drugs you are taking. Use generic names, and indicate dosages, as drug formulations vary from country to country.

Copy of a baseline electrocardiogram

Name and contact information of your physician

Brief letter from your doctor (on letterhead, signed and dated) that describes your condition, the need for any supplies or medications, and information on any implanted pacemakers or cardiac defibrillators you may have. Pack and carry more than enough of each of your medications to cover the length of your trip as medication may be difficult to procure once you reach your destination. Keep all medications in their original containers. Pack all of your medical information and medications in your cabin luggage to avoid losing them in misplaced luggage. Patients should not fly if:

They have had a heart attack (myocardial infarction) within the past two weeks

They have had coronary artery stent placement within the past one week

They have had coronary artery bypass surgery within the past two weeks (longer if they have

had complications)

They have unstable angina, poorly controlled heart failure, or uncontrolled arrhythmias On board oxygen (which is separate from the emergency system) should be requested well in advance to ensure an adequacy of supply if there is frequent angina or a reduced oxygen level in the patient at ground level. Cabin staff are trained for emergencies and all airlines carry first aid and medical emergency kits. Most major airline flights are now equipped with a ‘smart’ inflight defibrillator.

The following is a list of symptoms that should prompt you to seek medical attention if they occur during your travel:

Irregular pulse or one unusually fast (faster than 100 beats per minute) or very slow (lower than 50 beats per minute)
Shortness of breath
Light-headedness
Unusual fatigue
Unusual swelling of the legs and/or feet
Chest pain or discomfort
Precautions to take during air travel

Travelers over 50 years or even those under 50 years with one or more risk factors for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) (obesity, varicose veins, pregnancy, oral contraceptives) should observe the following precautions to prevent DVT

1. Move your legs

Don’t sit with your legs bent for hours on end. Stretch your legs out from time to time. Stretching and moving the legs stops blood stagnating in the deep veins of the calf

2. Don’t get dehydrated

Drink plenty of fluid — water is ideal Avoid excessive alcohol, which tends to cause dehydration
3. Wear compression stockings

Graduated compression stockings reduce the risk of DVT. They also help to prevent ankle swelling

Below knee stockings are the most comfortable kind, and seem just as effective as full length stockings

Compression stockings can be prescribed by a doctor and can be bought at chemists, surgical appliance specialists and also at airports

4. Aspirin

Taking an aspirin tablet (either a 75mg ‘junior aspirin’ or a normal 300mg aspirin tablet) a few hours before a long journey may provide a small amount of extra protection against DVT. Patients with pacemakers and implantable cardiac defibrillators should be rerouted for security clearance with hand held metal detectors and hand searches. The hand held device should be held over the ICD for no more than a few seconds.