Traveling with Heart Disease

February is American Heart Month.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the U.S.  Each year more than 700,000 people suffer a heart attack.  While many of these are a first-time heart attack, more than 200,000 occur in people who have had a previous heart attack.  Those with diagnosed heart disease should always be prepared for a medical emergency when traveling.  A coronary emergency away from home may involve air medical transport.

People with heart disease should always travel with all their medications including a list of medications in their purse or wallet.  Make sure that there is enough medication to last the entire trip, plus a few extra days in case of a delay in returning home.  It’s usually easier to refill any prescriptions at home before a trip than having to deal with refills in pharmacies away from home.  Always carry medications in their original containers that include the dosage amounts, this is especially important when traveling to other countries.  If there is a medical emergency away from home, the treating physician or hospital will be able to see the exact medication and dosage being taken by the patient.  It’s also good practice to carry a printed list of any supplements or over the counter medications being taken as well.  These may be easy to forget in a medical emergency but could negatively impact any new medication that would be prescribed.  Other important documentation to carry when traveling is the name and contact information of your primary care physician and cardiologist.  A copy of your health care proxy or medical power of attorney may also be appropriate.  Make sure that a travel companion will have access to this information.

If you have been treated for a coronary emergency while traveling, especially when abroad, air medical transport may be needed to get you back home.  A fixed wing air ambulance specializing in critical care transport is equipped to transfer the patient from one medical facility to another.  The plane becomes a mobile intensive care unit, and a flight team of healthcare experts will manage the patient in flight.

Medway Air Ambulance has been a top critical care transport service for three decades.  Their fleet of Learjets safely transports patients within the U.S. and around the world.  They can also arrange the ground transportation between the medical facility and the airport.  Medway Air Ambulance works with all major health insurance companies.