Travelling with Asthma

Asthma is a common condition and with the right preparations, shouldn’t be a reason not to travel. Planning ahead is essential in ensuring that you can enjoy your holiday to the max.
Follow our handy checklist to make sure you’re prepared for your time away:

Health check:

• Book an appointment with your GP and go over things like your personal asthma plan and what to do in an emergency, so you’re up-to-date and can inform anyone you’re travelling with what to do too.
  Order extra inhalers should any get lost or stolen on your trip.
• Take a print of your prescription with the generic medical names of your prescriptions as they are easily translatable for foreign pharmacists.
• Research medical facilities and how to get help at your destination, in case of an emergency

Planning:

• If you use a nebuliser, make sure it’s been serviced and is working well. Make sure you have a mains adapter to suit the electricity supply at your destination. You can buy portable battery-operated nebulisers for on the plane whilst you travel.
• Invest in some quality travel insurance that provides adequate cover for your condition and what you want to do.
• Bring your own pillows if feather-filled ones make your asthma worse, or ask your hotel/resort for an alternative. Similarly, if you’re sensitive to smoke, ask for a non-smoking room – smoking rules differ from country to country.

Air travel:

• If you’re short of breath, even when resting, you may need evaluation before you fly because of the reduced oxygen levels at high altitudes.
• Carry all your asthma medicines as hand luggage, in case your checked-in luggage goes missing or your medicines are damaged in the baggage hold.
• Under current security restrictions, you cannot carry containers with liquids, gels or creams that exceed 100ml in your hand luggage.
• You can carry essential medicines of more than 100ml on board, but you’ll need prior approval from the airline and airport and a letter from your doctor or a prescription.
• All asthma medicines taken on board should be in their original packaging, with the prescription label and contact details of the pharmacy clearly visible.

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