Can you fly if you have cardiovascular disease?

Before flying, those who have heart disease or have undergone a cardiac procedure should discuss their plans with a doctor. Some of the risk factors that might affect that decision include an unstable heart condition, long flights, flying to a high-elevation destination, and personal risk for blood clots.



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One of the biggest risks for people with heart disease who are flying is developing venous thrombosis. These risks are higher if you have CAD or an implanted heart device, such as an artificial heart valve or a coronary stent. 3 And if you have an arrhythmia, a blood clot in your heart can lead to a stroke.

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Ask your healthcare provider or check with the manufacturer to see if it's safe for you to go through security. If you need to carry any liquid medications or supplemental oxygen through security, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for a document explaining that you need to carry it on the plane with you.

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If you aren't sure whether your medication falls into one of these categories, you should check with your AME:
  • Tranquilizers, such as but not limited to Valium, Librium, Ativan.
  • Most antidepressants. ...
  • Opiates, such as Morphine, Codeine, Lortab, Percodan, Oxycontin.
  • Muscle relaxants, such as Soma, Sonata, Flexeril.


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If your blood pressure is higher than 120 over 80, seek medical advice before you travel.

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Does flying affect blood pressure? Yes it can. At high altitudes, even in a pressurised aircraft cabin, passengers are at risk of hypoxaemia (low oxygen concentration in the blood).

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Hypoxia and increased sympathetic activation may increase the risk of cardiac arrhythmias at high altitude2; however, the incidence of significant arrhythmias during air travel is rare.

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You may feel more breathless, your chest may feel tight. The longer your flight lasts, the more likely you are to experience symptoms. With the right medical advice and precautions, very few people experience problems when they fly.

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Talk to your doctor about wearing compression stockings or taking medicine before departure if you have additional risk factors for blood clots. Taking aspirin to prevent blood clots when traveling is not recommended. If you take aspirin for other reasons, check with your doctor.

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Bringing medicine to the UK If you're not a UK resident, you will need to carry a letter of proof that the medicine was prescribed for you. The letter must include: your name. the dates you are travelling to or from the UK.

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Medication is usually screened by X-ray; however, if a passenger does not want a medication X-rayed, he or she may ask for a visual inspection instead. This request must be made before any items are sent through the X-ray tunnel.

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At sea level, oxygen saturation hovers around 98 to 100 percent, but at 14,000 feet, the saturation levels drops to 80 percent due to oxygen-poor air, requiring the heart to increase cardiac output, requiring a 10 to 30 percent increase in heart rate to maintain appropriate oxygen delivery to tissues.

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