This summer, as travel rebounds and airports buzz with activity, it’s essential to ensure your health and well-being. This includes knowing when it’s safe to fly or postponing your trip until health issues are resolved.
Many air travelers experience discomfort from the slightly lowered amount of oxygen, drier air, cramped space and air pressure changes while flying. However, flying can even pose health risks for some people – in the form of blood clots, shortness of breath, pain in the ears, throat or sinuses, muscle cramps and more.
As you look forward to buckling your seatbelt, take proactive measures to protect your health before, during and after your flight.
BEFORE YOUR FLIGHT: Consult your doctor if you have or are experiencing symptoms of underlying health conditions that may raise your discomfort or risk during air travel, including:
-
Active cancer or recent cancer treatment
-
Chest pain
-
Collapsed lung
-
Deep vein thrombosis, personal and/or family history of blood clots and/or inherited blood clotting disorder
-
Infectious disease that’s easily transmissible
-
Pregnancy and the postpartum period (up to 3 months after childbirth)
-
Recent surgery or injury (within 3 months)
-
Severe ears, throat or sinus infections
-
Severe chronic respiratory diseases (like severe asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary fibrosis and cystic fibrosis)
-
Swelling of the brain, whether due to infection, injury or bleeding
-
Other conditions, like diabetes
DURING YOUR FLIGHT: Take action to minimize general discomfort and reduce symptoms of underlying health conditions.
-
Stay hydrated with water.
-
Minimize your alcohol and caffeine consumption, especially if you plan to sleep during your flight. Did you know that if you nap on a plane after consuming alcohol your blood oxygen can drop to worrisome levels?
-
Get up and walk around every one to two hours. If it’s difficult to walk around, do knee lifts, ankle circles, calf raises, toe raises, shoulder rolls and other stretches to engage different muscle groups and improve blood flow.
-
Consider wearing compression socks to lower the risk of blood clots.
-
If you’re traveling with a cold, consider wearing a mask to protect your fellow travelers and using a decongestant, saline nasal spray and chewing gum to get relief.
AFTER YOUR FLIGHT: Monitor for possible health issues or exacerbated symptoms of existing conditions.
-
Pain, achiness, heaviness, swelling in your leg(s)
-
Pain in ears, throat or sinuses
-
Shortness of breath
-
Fatigue
It’s safer in the long run to proactively ensure your well-being and test for possible health problems than it is to ignore a potentially life-threatening issue. That’s why Providence is ready, before and after your travels, to help you enjoy a safe, healthy summer.
Schedule an appointment or contact a Providence physician today.
