3 Travel Considerations If You Have a Lung Disease

As the weather turns warmer, many of us will be thinking about vacations and traveling. While traveling with a lung disease does require some careful consideration, having a lung disease doesn’t mean that you have to be confined to the house.

The British Lung Foundation has some advice for traveling with a lung disease and some of the things you may have to think about while planning your trip.

Transport
If traveling by bus, ferry, cruise ships, plane or train, you will need to contact the operator if you need to travel with oxygen. They’ll be able to advise you of their oxygen policy, what you need to bring or if you need any special equipment. If you require a wheelchair, you’ll need to find out if there’s wheelchair access or assistance to help you get on and off the vehicle.

MORE: Here are some of the signs and symptoms associated with COPD.

Location
Generally speaking, places at high altitudes may cause problems for people with lung diseases as their lungs will need to work much harder to breathe. The climate may also be a factor; if it’s too hot, you may get fatigued easily. Consider the terrain of your destination, how easy will it be to walk around or use a wheelchair?

The further away you travel, the more you may need to consider: how easy is it to get oxygen delivered to your destination? will you need additional insurance? how would you cope if you needed medical assistance in another country?

Speak to your healthcare team before planning any vacation, they’ll be able to advise you on the type of vacation you are physically up to.

Medications
Take all the medications you require for the duration of your holiday and some extra in case of emergencies. Find out where you can have oxygen delivered from. Make a list of all the medications you take, including antibiotics for infections and keep this with you to show medical professionals if you become ill while traveling.

MORE: Did you know a person usually breathes an average of 13 pints of air every minute? Learn more facts about the lungs here.

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