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What blood pressure is too high to fly?

There isn't any legally imposed limit as far as we're aware, but a high blood pressure must be controlled with medication before you travel for your safety. For example, blood pressure is considered high if over 140/90mmHg, so if your blood pressure is consistently above this value then it is important to reduce it.



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recent operation or injury where trapped air or gas may be present in the body (e.g. stomach ,bowel, eyes, face, brain) severe long term diseases that affect your breathing. breathlessness at rest. unresolved pneumothorax (punctured lung)

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Unstable heart disease is associated with a higher risk of adverse events due to flying, and you may need to avoid flying, at least temporarily, until your condition is well controlled. People with pacemakers or implantable defibrillators can fly safely.

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Who should not travel by air? Diseases that prevent you from boarding a plane
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
  • A recent stroke.
  • Infectious diseases, such as chickenpox, influenza or even COVID-19.
  • A recent surgery.
  • A pregnancy of over 28 weeks.
  • Angina (chest pain at rest)


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According to medical research, travelling with arrhythmia is perfectly safe, as long as you are either suffering from no symptoms or you have been deemed clinically stable by a medical professional.

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Air travel increases the risk of developing blood clots in the veins of the legs, which can then enter the bloodstream and block an artery in the lungs, a condition called pulmonary embolism. In some cases, the opening can allow the blood clot to enter the arteries of the brain, causing a stroke.

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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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If you were to experience a stroke on a plane, the pilot may attempt to make an emergency landing to get you the emergency medical attention you need. Although lives have been saved by emergency landings before, the time it takes for you to receive appropriate treatment may still be prolonged.

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Some research suggests coffee can lower the risk for high blood pressure, also called hypertension, in people who don't already have it. But drinking too much coffee has been shown to raise blood pressure and lead to anxiety, heart palpitations and trouble sleeping.

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