Flying with heat disease

[Kimberley0611]

My mum was diagnosed with heart disease 3 weeks ago and has been on all the relevant medication my question is she is due to fly on the 21st of September to Spain shes heard story's that people have been able to fly she is worried she won't be able to is there anybody that has flown with heart disease and been ok. We are new to this whole heart problems and are still coming to terms with what's happening at the minute she has no symptoms unless waking up hills where she gets a little pain but nothing severe

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Sorry but nobody here can give you a definitive answer. Whilst it is probably OK, and many have flown shortly after diagnosis, HA or surgery, ou need to check with her GP as everyone's case is different. Also make sure she had adequate insurance cover with all medical conditions disclosed. Hope it pans out well.

[Lezzers]

As Michael has said, lots of people with various heart conditions fly but only her medical team can say if its OK for your mum. Depending on her medical condition and how it affects her she may need a certificate to fly, check the airlines terms & conditions. Finally, insurance is very important, I know of someone who was poorly on a plane last year, the plane had to be diverted and the airline invoiced him for 28000 euros, fortunately the insurers paid it!

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

Hi Kimberley

As well as good travel insurance as Lezzers has already mentioned, I suggest your mum goes to see her GP who can assess your mum and issue a fit to fly letter if necessary.

It is possible to fly even with a complex heart condition many of us do. Just make sure you have good travel insurance.

Have a lovely holiday !

[sos007]

The only issue with flying is the risk of thrombosis. If your mom is taking a blood thinner or anti-platelet medication, then she should be fine. Adopting a plant-based diet, eliminating all sugars and refined carbohydrates, as well as processed foods, supplemented by small amounts of animal protein and omega-3 rich fish such as wild caught salmon, along with daily exercise, will help your mother improve her cardiovascular health.

This dietary and lifestyle regimen is not just for sick people, it is also optimal to help most people to avoid chronic diseases.

Good luck.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to sos007]

Not necessarily.....

It is important to discuss with your GP or Cardiologist whether you are fit to fly.

I am only allowed to fly short distances with a portable oxygen condenser which I need to use throught out the flight.

[sos007 in reply to Milkfairy]

The poster only mentioned heart disease and no other details. Somebody requiring portable oxygen likely has additional or more complex cardiovascular health issues. The term 'heart disease' is very broad and can cover many aspects of cardiovascular function. It is intuitive that most people would first check with their doctor and are likely polling this forum for supplemental information.

I too have heart disease and have had bypass surgery and 2 angioplasties. I have never received a 'do not fly' warning or other guidance regarding flying from my cardiologist. I fly regularly throughout the year for business without incident.

[Kimberley0611 in reply to sos007]

Thankyou for your reply not too sure what the actual diagnosis is called all I know is that she has plaque on the left side of her heart she is on blood thinners to help the blood run through as the arteries although she hasn't seen her consultant yet the doctor who gave her the need after an angiogram did say that it would probably just be treated with medication at this time as the damage is already done and the idea will be to control any more plaque build up and to have regular check ups at this time she is lucky as it isn't affecting her daily life unless she does too much then causes a little pain I really appreciate your reply as this is all new to me and my mum so thankyou

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

Not necessarily.

Members of this forum often sign post people to the appropriate treatment

including the advice to call an ambulance on several occasions.

Not everyone acts in an ' intuitive' manner

I note you have added another paragraph to your original reply to me.

It is the Healthcare professionals responsible for our care to assess whether we are fit to fly.

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

It is for an individual's doctor to give medical advice including whether they are fit to fly.

It is not possible for any of us on this site to give medical advice as we are not healthcare professionals in possession of the medical notes of the individual.

[sos007 in reply to Milkfairy]

Thank you compliance department. You will note in my response that I suggested she consult her doctor.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to sos007]

This I hope is a forum for people to provide support and share their experiences without judgement.

[sos007 in reply to Milkfairy]

Who is judging whom?

[Lezzers in reply to sos007]

How rude! Would you speak to your partner, children or someone in the supermarket in such a way purely because they've said something you're not happy with?

[sos007 in reply to Lezzers]

I think Milkfairy can answer for him/her self. It is rude to interfere in the conversation of others.

[Lezzers]

Also be aware that a diet high in fresh veg. Legumes, nuts seeds and fruits is also high in potassium. I would suggest, as in the case of my husband, that diet be discussed with the cardiologistGP/nurse to ensure which foods are suitable.

[sos007 in reply to Lezzers]

If your logic were right I would be dead. You cannot eat yourself to death from high potassium foods if you have heart disease. It is more of an issue for those with CKD. Discussing diet with a cardiologistGP/nurse is of no benefit, they do not have training in nutrition and diet. A person must consult with a registered dietitian.

[Lezzers in reply to sos007]

You're quite right that potassium affects the kidneys, but if you already have high potassium issues as my husband does eating a diet that could increase your potassium can be dangerous. The extra potassium that your body does not need is removed from your blood by your kidneys. ... When you have too much potassium in your blood, it is called high potassium, or hyperkalemia. Having too much potassium in your blood can be dangerous. High potassium can even cause a heart attack or death! We discussed the diet with the cardiologist who asked the GP for referral to a dietician

[sos007 in reply to Lezzers]

Soaking and cooking can be used to leach excess potassium from high potassium foods such as legumes and certain vegetables.

Here's a medical study for reference:

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/303...

Here's a note from the Kidney Foundation:

kidney.org/atoz/content/pot...

[Lezzers in reply to sos007]

Thank you for the link. Leaching is quite high maintenence for me to do on a daily basis, the kitchen isnt my favourite room in the house, but thank you anyway

How to leach vegetables.

For Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Carrots, Beets, Winter Squash, and Rutabagas:

Peel and place the vegetable in cold water so they won’t darken.

Slice vegetable 1/8 inch thick.

Rinse in warm water for a few seconds.

Soak for a minimum of two hours in warm water. Use ten times the amount of water to the amount of vegetables. If soaking longer, change the water every four hours.

Rinse under warm water again for a few seconds.

Cook vegetable with five times the amount of water to the amount of vegetable.

[Sunnie2day]

Once a person has been diagnosed with a heart condition he/she should always-always-always consult the primary care team (cardiac team) or at least the GP before booking much less boarding a flight, short or long-haul. Always.

I have multiple heart conditions - all currently considered mild but all requiring following by a cardiac team in addition to my GP. My adult children and their families live in the USA, one along the Gulf of Mexico and the other along the Pacific, so visiting family means long-haul flying.

Before every flight (even short trips here in the UK and over to the Continent) I 'book a tenner' (ten minute consult) with the GP which usually concludes with her prescribing a diuretic (to prevent excess fluid - my legs swell to alarming size during flights) and she reminds me to wear my compression stockings+do the exercises during the flight. She has so many patients who fly that she's got a print-out she gives everyone demonstrating the exercises to do.

As Milkfairy says - we're not medical professionals and so are not qualified to give medical advice of any kind, the best we can do is relate 'been-there/done-that' experience which should never be taken as anything even close to sound medical advice - the only medical advice your mum should rely on is from the cardiac team and GP.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Sunnie2day]

Just done my ' tenner' with my GP.

Got my fit to fly letter long with oh just email me and I'll do your letter for you no need to see me next time🙂

[Sunnie2day in reply to Milkfairy]

That's great! You must be floating on air to hear you're good to go, where are you headed off to?

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Sunnie2day]

I am going to Croatia with team Milkfairy.

[Sunnie2day in reply to Milkfairy]

I've been looking at holidays there, the beaches look amazing in the brochures. Enjoy your holiday and be sure to tell us how it was!

[Lezzers]

Completely agree with all you've said. My husband has HF & has flown lots of times (only allowed short haul) but would never have considered flying with the OK ftom GP. We no longer fly now as it got complicated.

[Kimberley0611]

My mum has been to see her cardiologist and he is reffering her to another consultant who deals with what she has they said it is arterialslorosis she will be having a stent put in once the other consultant has looked at her case she is also having something fitted that monitors her oxygen levels. She has been told she is able to fly and that there is treatment for what she has even tho no cure it can be managed think she is feeling a little better about this but very nervous about having the procedures.

[Speakeazi in reply to Kimberley0611]

Make sure to get travel insurance. It is a process but she needs to be absolutely honest about her diagnosis, medications, appts and tests. If not the policy can be invalid even if she needs to claim for a broken leg.

Incidentally I knew the US and Canada were v expensive for healthcare- turns out Spain and Cyprus are too.

Have a look at here for more info

circulationfoundation.org.u...

[Foxyhole]

I’ve been on holiday 4 times since my heart attack last year where I got a stent, just make sure you have insurance. I feel ok a bit fed up with the pills 💊 but if they keep me living that’s ok 😃

[PhilandDon]

Hi Kimberly

I had a heart attack in May and had 3 stents fitted. Flew to Majorca 6 weeks later. Was obviously a little concerned but was happy with my insurance cover and had had a chat with my cardio nurse before I went who was very reassuring. Despite the name tag I am a 61 year old woman. Hope you enjoy your trip as much as I enjoyed mine.