Traveling Tips While Living With Heart Failure

Traveling is one thing that we all do. Sometimes it’s a short trip, other times we do long-distance travel. There are different things you can do to keep yourself safe while traveling.

Check with your healthcare team first

When you have heart failure, travel can be a dangerous event if the proper precautions are not made. Obviously, the first thing you must do before traveling is check with your healthcare team to see if you are able to travel in the fashion you are planning. You may have restrictions your cardiologist will want you to follow for certain modes of travel. We are all different in our condition and other things going on in our bodies, so I can’t say what specific types of travel you may be restricted to. What I can do is give you some tips to stay safe while traveling.

Preventing blood clots

Pushing blood out

As you should know, heart failure means that your heart does not pump blood as effectively as it should. This can put us at risk for blood clots, especially in the legs. One thing that helps prevent blood clots in your legs is walking. The natural squeezing of your muscles while you walk helps push the blood out of your legs.

Walking and stretching

When you travel for a long time, you need to either walk for about 5 minutes every hour or simulate walking if you can’t get up. You can push your toes away from you and then pull your toes towards your head, making sure you feel a squeeze in your calf muscles. Keeping the blood moving through your legs not only feels good but can help you stay safe and prevent medical issues.

Have a plan

On the road

Another thing you can do to ensure safe travels is to have a plan in case something happens to you. This can be kind of tough on a plane, but when you driving, you can look at your route and make sure to know what you might say if you need to call in an emergency. Know the roads you are on and the direction you are going. This way if you need to call for help, you can tell someone where you are so you can be found quickly.

On a boat

When it comes to being on a boat, such as a cruise, you should enquire about what medical staff and services they offer. Ask about specific issues you may be prone to. If you are prone to fluid retention, ask if they are able to help with that kind of issue and how they handle it. Always hope for the best on your trips, but be ready for the worst.

Happy travels

There are just a few things that can help keep you safe during your travels. A lot of what can keep you safe is based on your conditions and what you are prone to as far as specific issues. Stay smart, stay safe, and hopefully, your travels will be happy.