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Travelling with a Heart Condition

Living with a heart condition can make things complicated, but in most cases it’s still possible to do everything you want to – it just takes a little more time and planning.

Travelling is no different. Most people with a heart condition can still visit the far-away lands they dream of, as long as they’re not going against their doctor’s advice and are willing to plan ahead.

According to health experts, these preparations should be made four to six weeks in advance. Let us run you through them.

Destination

There are lots of things that influence a person’s decision about where to travel to, and when you have a heart condition, this must be one of them. Luckily, most countries will not be out of bounds, provided you carefully plan exactly where you’re going to stay.

To start with, look for accommodation with easy access and close proximity to amenities. Hotels located half way up a mountain are probably not ideal, nor those that require you to walk five miles to the nearest shop. You want somewhere that you can get to and from without raising your heart rate.

Remember, too, that it’s not only how much walking you’ll need to do that’s important, but also the conditions around you. The aforementioned mountain hotel might be within easy distance of the nearest shop, but if it sits at an altitude over 2,000 metres, then oxygen levels will be reduced, and this can trigger breathlessness and angina attacks.

Countries with extremes of temperature are also to be avoided, as these can increase the strain on your heart. If you’re not sure how much you can take and there is somewhere in particular that you would love to visit, remember that you can always seek your doctor’s advice on whether it would be suitable; you might be pleasantly surprised by their answer.

Lastly, make sure that the location you choose has medical facilities nearby in case anything should go wrong.

Travel Insurance

Everyone who travels abroad should have medical insurance, but when you have a heart condition this can complicate things quite severely. You may find that standard medical policies no longer cover you. If this is the case, don’t despair; specialist medical insurance providers do exist, such as Able 2 Travel. It’s important to be brutally honest when filling out any related forms, so make sure that you mention all past and present conditions. If you’re not sure on anything, ask your doctor to give you a hand, as mistakes or omissions could make your cover invalid.

If you’re travelling within Europe, you should also get a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). This will entitle you to reduced-cost and sometimes free medical care in participating countries, although it is not an alternative to travel insurance.

More information on finding insurance when you suffer from a heart condition can be found here.

Air Travel

Before you book your holiday, it’s important to check with your doctor that you’re okay to fly. You may be at an increased risk of suffering from deep vein thrombosis, so it’s important that you receive advice on this.

If you are cleared as being fit for travel, there are a few things you need to think about in terms of your time at the airport and in flight. Firstly, will you need any help with your luggage or boarding? If so, make sure that you arrange this with airport staff beforehand. Secondly, if you’ll require more than 100ml of medicine on board, this will need prior approval from the airline and airport, with a letter from your doctor or a prescription to prove its necessity, so make sure that you take care of this prior to flying.

Once that’s all in hand, all that’s left to do is sit back, relax and enjoy your holiday.

One Response to Travelling with a Heart Condition

  1. Emma davis Reply

    March 27, 2017 at 9:47 am

    There is a formed way to produce a best travel for heart issues people for them, good suggestions are here.

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