How to Travel with a Chronic Condition (2024)

FAQs

How do you travel with a chronic health condition? ›

Jennifer Martin, PsyD of www.imaginelifetherapy.com. According to imaginelifetherapy.com, there are seven stages of grief for chronic disease: denial, pleading, bargaining and desperation, anger, anxiety and depression, loss of self and confusion, and acceptance.

Patients with a baseline oxygen saturation of 90% or those with moderate HF may require an on-board medical oxygen supply. Those with severe or decompensated congestive heart failure should avoid flying commercially. Patients with implantable cardiac devices may need special attention when flying long distances.

While cancer and dementia remained the top two most feared conditions for both age groups, among younger participants (aged 18–64 years) cancer was the most feared condition (38.1%, 95%CI 32-44.3), while among those aged 65 years and over dementia was the most feared (32.8%, 95%CI 24.6–41.9).

Number 1: Hypertension (high blood pressure)

The danger of hypertension is not only that you can have it for years and not know it, but it can cause other serious health conditions, like stroke and heart attacks. Steps you can take to prevent or reduce high blood pressure: Maintaina healthy weight.

Some can be immediately life-threatening, such as heart disease and stroke. Others linger over time and need intensive management, such as diabetes. Most chronic illnesses persist throughout a person's life but are not always the cause of death, such as arthritis.

In optimising the consultation, five C's need attention: control, compliance, complications, counseling/concerns, and customization. Patients with chronic conditions must become the principal caregiver themselves looking after their diet, exercise, lifestyle modification, medication use, and self monitoring.

What are the top 3 chronic diseases? ›

Chronic diseases are among the leading causes of chronic disease worldwide. Chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and associated risk factors such as smoking and physical inactivity, increased the risk of severe COVID-19 morbidity and mortality.

The four phases experienced by people with chronic illness include crisis, stabilization, resolution, and integration. Although these phases are sequential, the model recognizes that individuals may move backward and forward and sometimes exhibit signs of being in more than one phase simultaneously.

“It could be worse.” We all know that there are people suffering worse than we are in this world. But saying so does nothing to help a loved one battling a chronic condition. It takes away from their living experience and dismisses their emotions.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the primary form of talk therapy used to help people who live with a chronic illness. Those with a chronic illness often struggle to cope with often-debilitating medical treatments (such as chemotherapy), as well as doubt, uncertainty and frequently shifting moods.

Most individual health insurance policies in the U.S. do not provide coverage for overseas emergency care, either. Without that coverage, if you break a leg or your travel companion has a heart attack during your trip, you will not have financial protection against the medical expenses that accrue.

Keeping active is important, but try to plan ahead just how active your travels will require you to be. A sudden increase in your daily activity could cause a decline in your CFS symptoms. Pace yourself – take breaks, stop for rest regularly, and plan in relaxation days when you are not expecting to do as much.

It is recommended for travelers with blocked arteries to remain on the lookout for shortness of breath or other symptoms that would show that the situation is becoming risky. This is why a medical escort is ideal if you have a blocked artery and you need to fly.

Conditions which may not be covered

Conditions like terminal illness, the need for oxygen, pending surgery, chronic lung disease, cardiovascular disease, specific types of cancer, congestive heart failure, and recurring pain are generally excluded from coverage.