Medical Conditions That Make Flying Dangerous
For the most part, air travel is very safe but, as with almost everything, there is a risk involved. Flying can have significant effects on the body, and therefore flying with certain medical conditions may be more dangerous. You should avoid flying, or at least take extra care during your trip, if you have one or more of the following conditions.
Heart Conditions
When it comes to plane maintenance, used aircraft parts can replace worn-out ones so that they do not fail while the plane is airborne. However, heart disease may cause a failure of the body’s circulatory organ during a flight. Cardiovascular disease can cause a lack of oxygen in the tissues. Because airplanes fly at high altitudes, there is less oxygen available inside the craft, which can make symptoms worse.
In most cases, electronic security devices will not affect cardiac implants. However, if you have implants such as stents or defibrillators, you must carry a doctor’s letter or card attesting to the fact because it could set off the metal detectors. If you have heart disease, you should have an electrocardiogram performed before the flight and carry a copy with you.
Deep Vein Thrombosis
Deep vein thrombosis refers to one or more blood clots that form in the veins of the extremities, usually one of the legs but, more rarely, one of the arms. A DVT can be painful on its own, but the real risk is that the clot will break away and travel through the circulatory system into the lungs. When this occurs, it is called a pulmonary embolism, and it can seriously diminish lung function, sometimes to the point of death.
Air travel is recognized as a risk factor for deep vein thrombosis, and because DVT can be so dangerous, people with a history of it may be advised not to fly for fear of forming a new one.
Pregnancy
The risks of flying while pregnant are generally small during the first and second trimester. The closer you come to your due date, however, the more risks are involved and the less advisable air travel becomes. The risks are compounded for those susceptible to placental abruption, premature delivery, or miscarriage. Generally, no long-distance travel is recommended after 36 weeks’ gestation, whether by air or another method.
If you must travel while pregnant, ask your doctor if he or she thinks it is safe. If your doctor thinks the risk is acceptable, he or she may write you a letter of approval, which the airline may require to let you on the flight.
Infectious Disease
If you have an infectious disease, not only may travel be uncomfortable for you, but you may put other occupants of the aircraft at risk of contracting the disease. Airlines may impose a restriction preventing you from flying until a set time has passed after the initial onset. Sometimes the symptoms themselves determine when you can fly following an infection. For example, if you have had chickenpox, you may not be able to fly until all the blisters have crusted over.
Diabetes
Diabetes does not prevent you from flying, but it does require you to take extra precautions. If you are taking a long flight through several time zones, you should not use local time to determine when to take insulin but the real number of hours elapsed. You may need to monitor blood sugar levels more often than normal. In case of low blood glucose during the flight, you should carry sugary foods or supplements with you on the plane.
Lung Disease
Decreased oxygen levels and pressure changes may exacerbate lung conditions. Therefore, lung disease may prevent you from flying altogether. If it does not, you still may need supplemental oxygen during the flight. It may take extra time to take the equipment through a security check, so you should plan for this. Oxygen equipment also needs to comply with the airline’s carry-on luggage requirements.
If you have one or more of these conditions, you should talk to your doctor before attempting to travel by plane. Your doctor can recommend things you can do to stay healthy while flying or, if the risk is too great, suggest alternative means of transportation.
