Hey there, fellow travelers! Today we’re in Xi’an, China, home of the Terra Cotta Warriors. Today’s topic is a bit more serious as we’re talking about travel health, specifically, traveling with heart issues or health problems. I was born with two holes in my heart, so I can relate. It obviously doesn’t keep me from traveling, but there are certain precautions you should take. This is just my advice; I am not a medical doctor, so please consult your physician before you travel.
#1 Review Your Travel Plans with Your Doctor
Before you leave for a trip, go through your travel plans with your doctor. Tell them where you’re traveling to and what activities you are planning to see if they have any concerns. You may need to modify your plans a bit based on your doctor’s feedback. For example, the Great Wall of China is a steep climb, so if you have a heart condition, you may not be able to walk the wall and you may need to just view it from afar.
#2 Get Doctor’s Notes for Medication or Pacemakers
If you take medications, get a note from your doctor that explains what the medication is and what it does, as well as the official name. The names or brands may be different abroad, so that’s why an explanation of the medication is also important because if you lose your medication and need to get more while you’re traveling, getting the right medication can be critical. Likewise, if you are traveling abroad with a pacemaker, be sure to have a note explaining that you can’t go through the security scanner.
#3 Flight Safety
There are additional considerations to take into account while you are flying, especially on long-haul flights. Here are a few tips for staying healthy while flying:
- Drink a lot of water, avoid caffeine and alcohol
- Get up and walk around every 90 minutes
- Do leg and foot stretches in your seat (usually depicted in the in-flight magazine)
- If you are traveling with prescriptions, keep all of your medication in the original packaging in your carry-on (never put any medication in checked baggage!)
Watch: Five Things You Should Never Put in Checked Baggage
#4 Have Extra Medication
You may count out your pills and think you have just enough to get through your trip, but what if your flight is delayed? You always want to have a few extra days worth of medication just in case. Most doctors are very understanding about this and can give you an early refill or bump up your prescription amount temporarily.
#5 Put Important Numbers in Your Phone
Before you leave, program your doctors’ phone numbers, as well as your pharmacy phone number on your phone. If something should happen, the last thing you want to do is try to look up phone numbers in an emergency.
#6 Travel Medical Insurance
Many US health insurance providers will not pay for problems abroad. You have to check with them ahead of time to find out what your travel health insurance coverage will be overseas. I pay extra for health insurance that does cover me abroad, and then I buy travel medical insurance on top of that. You can purchase trip insurance when you are buying your flights online. In some instances, you may even want to get the insurance that includes emergency evacuation. This is recommended for cruises or remote travel to places like the Galapagos Islands.
Finally, just some general travel advice:
- Know your limits and don’t push them. Don’t be afraid to say no to some activities.
- Let your travel partners know your limits and what to expect when traveling with you.
- Pack Smart & Pack Light! Don’t burden yourself with heavy suitcases
- Pick less stressful locations and destinations. Look for relaxing locations.
Watch: How to Pack a Carry-On for Women
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This post isn’t meant to scare anyone from traveling. I’ve had open-heart surgery and I travel all over the world. It just means you need to take a few extra precautions that will hardly interfere with your travel at all! I would love to hear from others who travel with heart problems; what are your tips for travel health?
For more travel tips and advice, check out these blog posts and videos:
Pre-Trip Checklist: What to Do at Home Before You Leave on Vacation