Which Medical Conditions Can Stop You From Flying?
Flying is often one of the quickest and most convenient travel methods, but sometimes it is not an option for people with certain medical or health conditions. Before you book a flight and get on a plane, you must understand which medical and health conditions you should not fly with. Many airlines don’t allow people with specific conditions to fly because it could be a safety hazard for themselves, other passengers and crew members.
A quick overview of the medical conditions you should not fly with includes:
- Infectious diseases
- Pregnancy
- Heart complications
- A recent heart attack
- A recent stroke
- Respiratory diseases
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Unstable mental health problems
Other conditions that could be aggravated by flight travel include hypertension, asthma, epilepsy, and having just undergone surgery.
We’ll dive into some of these medical conditions below.
Medical and Health Conditions You Should Not Fly With
Who should not travel by air? Many people have medical excuses for not flying. If you need a plane to travel, ensure you don’t have a condition that would prevent you from flying. Some conditions you should not fly with:
- Infectious diseases: If you have viral infections, like the flu, chickenpox, measles or other infectious diseases, you should not fly on airplanes until your doctor gives you clearance. You don’t want to get other passengers sick. Plus, you’ll feel better when fully recovered before boarding a plane.
- Pregnancy: Many airlines restrict flying for pregnant people who are toward the end of their third trimester. The air pressure while flying increases the risk of blood clots forming, which is not ideal.
- Heart complications: If you’ve suffered a heart attack, stroke, cardiac failure or chest pain while at rest, flying should wait. The lower oxygen levels, increased air pressure, high altitude and more could affect your health.
- Respiratory diseases: Any lung condition, even short-term, could affect your chances of flying. If you have a condition that makes you short of breath, it could be challenging to breathe while on the plane. You could still fly with certain respiratory conditions if your doctor confirms it’s okay.
- Deep vein thrombosis: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is when you obtain a blood clot in one of your deep leg veins, which can lead to swelling and pain. If you have DVT, your limited mobility while on a plane and the air pressure changes in the cabin could increase the chances of clots.
- Unstable mental health problems: Passengers with psychiatric disorders are usually able to fly, although sometimes they will need an escort, especially if their mental state becomes disturbed.
Additional Medical and Health Conditions That Can Stop You From Flying
Many other conditions could prevent an individual from flying. If you have a pre-existing condition like lung or heart disease, cancer or anemia, you’ll want to consult your doctor for clearance it’s okay to fly. Additionally, those who recently underwent surgery or got out of the hospital should receive clearance from their doctor before flying.
Sometimes, people get injured or sick while abroad and need a way to get home other than commercial airlines. When that happens, REVA can help you or a loved one get home and receive treatment. REVA offers air ambulance services to assist travelers returning home when sick or injured.
Contact REVA for an Air Ambulance Today
REVA is here and ready to assist whenever you are considering flying with medical conditions. No matter your situation, we ensure you or a loved one receives efficient and compassionate care while traveling. Our fleet of private jets can help you whether you need to fly across a state, a country or the world.
Every REVA air ambulance has the most experienced medical and aviation teams to provide you with the best care possible until you reach your destination. When you fly with REVA, we handle the entire process so you can have peace of mind and focus on getting better. We strive to make receiving an air ambulance easy and affordable.
Take your next step to receiving care and flying home on an air ambulance by requesting an online quote today with REVA.
