Airplane travel, which is one of the most preferred forms of travel today, carries some risks for people with heart disease. Stating that these risks are considerably reduced thanks to the medical equipment and trained flight personnel on board, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Murat Yalçın said, “People with stable heart disease usually do not have problems with air travel. However, it may be risky for people who have had a recent heart attack, recent bypass or heart valve surgery, unstable heart failure and unstable arrhythmia, persistent severe chest pain and uncontrolled high blood pressure to travel by plane.”
During air travel, the oxygen pressure in the air decreases with high altitude and the oxygen intake required for the body becomes difficult. Thanks to the in-cabin pressure adjustment systems in passenger planes traveling at an altitude of approximately 9,000-13,000 meters, passengers are exposed to oxygen pressure at an altitude of approximately 1,500-2,000 meters above the ground. “This amount of oxygen does not cause any problems in healthy individuals and most heart patients. However, this may cause problems in some unstable heart patients,” said Medicana Ataşehir Hospital Cardiology Specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Murat Yalçın; He stated that people may also experience problems due to stress factors such as flight excitement, carrying luggage, waiting queues at the airport.
Long periods of inactivity can lead to blood clotting
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Murat Yalçın explained the measures that can be taken against health problems before and after the flight as follows:
“During the hustle and bustle of the journey, blood pressure rises, palpitations and chest pain may occur in people with cardiovascular disease. Individuals whose pre-flight complaints do not improve should definitely see an airport doctor before boarding the plane. Another risk is; staying inactive for a long time on long journeys, dehydration, alcohol intake, etc. can cause clotting in the leg veins and serious conditions when the clot breaks off from here and goes to the lung. To prevent this condition, it may be useful to take short walks in the corridor during the journey, occasionally contract the calf muscles while sitting, avoid alcohol intake and consume plenty of fluids. Individuals who are over the age of 50, obese, have severe varicose veins, smoke, have had a previous clotting event, have increased risks such as cancer disease and pregnancy can use blood thinners before traveling if deemed appropriate in consultation with their doctor.”
People with pacemakers can travel by plane
“Those with stable heart disease generally do not have problems with air travel,” said Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yalçın, and gave the following information about the risky groups:
“It may be risky for patients with recent heart attack, recent bypass or heart valve surgery, unstable heart failure, unstable rhythm disorder, persistent severe chest pain, uncontrolled high blood pressure to travel by plane. Patients in this situation can only fly if deemed appropriate after a medical check-up. All cardiac patients should carry their medications and the documents indicating how they use them with them during the flight. Patients with pacemakers or shock devices should not pass through x-ray devices at airport checkpoints. They should have the necessary battery cards and documents with them to avoid any problems in this regard. Apart from this, there is no harm for patients with pacemakers to travel by plane.”
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Murat Yalçın; Although it varies from patient to patient, the average times that people with heart disease should avoid air travel are as follows: “Patients who have just had a heart attack can travel by plane for at least 2 weeks, patients who have undergone cardiac angioplasty but have not had a stent inserted for 1 day, patients who have had a stent inserted for 1 week, people who have had a pacemaker inserted for 1 week, patients who have had bypass / heart valve surgery can travel by plane 3 weeks later, when deemed appropriate after the control of their doctors.”
İHA Haber Kodu: 20240827AW275085