Welcome to Travelturtle, the travel health advice site that provides you with country specific medical and vaccination reports usually only available to registered UK healthcare professionals.
Use this page information for travelling with heart disease and dealing with a heart attack abroad.
- Find generic information about managing heart disease abroad.
- Find information about medically preparing yourself for travelling with heart disease.
- Find heart disease travel advice concerning environmental influences on any condition.
- Find hints on tips on how to best deal with heart disease whilst travelling including any problem symptoms.
Heart disease |
To prevent a heart attack overseas patients should avoid - strenuous activity holidays
- frenetic itineraries
- high altitude
- travel with an unstable condition
- travel soon after a heart attack
Preparation is key
Heart disease can cause problems while on holiday, but choosing destinations sensibly and planning carefully can minimise the risks. Air travel should not be undertaken after recent heart attack or stroke.
Patients should:
- check the itinerary, try not to rush too much and avoid climbing too many steps or other strenuous activities
- stick to safe environments like cruise ships
- check accommodation, for instance, whether all the hotels have lifts
- be cautious about long flights. Cabin oxygen pressure is lower than at sea level
- check the country's health facilities
- follow travel advice and make sure they are fully immunised. Illness abroad can be stressful and can destabilise heart disease
- book assistance at airports, hotels or on transfers
- make sure they have sufficient medication and a list of their medicines
- use wheelie cases to avoid lifting and physical exertion
- use buggies for travel to the plane
- where they can, travel by land to avoid the mild oxygen depletion of air flight
- stressful situations and unaccustomed exertion
- high altitude, as this puts extra pressure on the heart
- infections, since diarrhoea and vomiting can be stressful and may exacerbate pre-existing heart disease
- day trips, excursions or tours that are more stressful or arduous than they seem
- Cold weather is a strain on the heart and may increase the risk of heart attack. Patients should wrap up warm and take a hat - and avoid exerting themselves.
- Hot weather can cause dehydration, putting an extra strain on the heart and circulation.
|