Stroke Association – April 2012
2
Holidays after stroke
Travelling with medication
If you need medication, make sure you pack
it in your hand-luggage and take enough to
last you through any unexpected delays. It
is also a good idea to take a letter from your
doctor stating what your medication is and
why you need it.
There may be restrictions on taking
medication into some countries so check
beforehand with the Foreign and
Commonwealth Oce (see page 4). The
airline, if you are ying, may also require you
or your doctor to complete medical forms.
It is also a good idea to check with the
Foreign and Commonwealth Oce
about specic health advice and entry
requirements for the country you are
visiting.
Can I y after a stroke?
People often ask when it is safe to y after a
stroke. It is probably best to avoid ying for
the rst two weeks. This is the time when
your problems are likely to be most severe
and other conditions related to your stroke
may come up. After that there may not seem
to be any reason why you should not y, but
it is always advisable to check with your
doctor before ying.
Aircraft cabins have less oxygen available
than normal. This is not usually a problem,
but it may be if you have a heart or breathing
condition.
On a long-haul ight (six hours or more),
you are likely to be inactive for a long period
of time. This will slow your blood ow,
making it more likely to clot, and may cause
a deep vein thrombosis (DVT). A DVT is a
blood clot in a vein, usually in your leg. This
can be dangerous if small clots break o
from a DVT and travel to your lungs. If you
have a hole in your heart called a patent
foramen ovale (PFO) it may be possible for a
small clot to pass through your bloodstream
to your brain, causing a stroke.
Anyone can develop a DVT and they can
also occur with long-distance train or car
journeys. You may be more at risk of DVT if
you have had a stroke or are aged over 60.
You can reduce your risk of DVT by doing
simple exercises such as exing your
ankles. If possible, take an occasional short
walk to get your blood owing. You should
also drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol,
as dehydration can thicken your blood and
increase the risk of clots forming. Wearing
elastic compression stockings may also help.
Contact the airline to discuss your
requirements, including any additional help
you will need on the ight, at least 48 hours
in advance.
All European airports should have facilities
to help you move through the airport and
get on and o the plane if you have reduced
mobility. Airline crew are not able to provide
personal care. The airline may insist that you
travel with a companion if you are unable
to understand safety briengs or reach
emergency exits without help.
Most airlines will carry two items of mobility
equipment for free. Larger items, such as
wheelchairs, will need to be checked in.