Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Travel Medicine (Expert Forum)
7 hour Air Travel 1 week after a 'mini stroke'
Answered by
Philip Parks, MD - Occupational Safety, Occupational Health, Travel Medicine, Environmental Health
Harvard School of Public Health
Boston - MA
Questions in the Travel Medicine forum are answered by Dr. Philip D Parks, affiliated with Harvard School of Public Health. Topics covered include disease prevention, finding a doctor abroad, food and water safety, illness and injury abroad, mosquito and tick protection, resources for travelers, traveling with children or pets, traveling with special needs, vaccinations and immunizations.
7 hour Air Travel 1 week after a 'mini stroke'
by ATVH, Apr 16, 2008 01:29AM
G'day,
My dad had a mini stroke on Sunday, basically he had numbness in his body. The GP he saw within an hour or two of onset said he had experienced a 'ministroke'. He was walking with a limp on the way to the doctor but was walking well when he left. He later felt dizzy and nauseous.
A day later he was taken to another doctor who also confirmed that he suffered a 'mini stroke' and did a quick blod test to determine a very high cholesterol level. He has been given medication to treat this. My Mum and dad are supposed to travel by air (7hr) flight this Friday, about 5 days after the mini stroke. Is this adviceable?
Allan
My dad had a mini stroke on Sunday, basically he had numbness in his body. The GP he saw within an hour or two of onset said he had experienced a 'ministroke'. He was walking with a limp on the way to the doctor but was walking well when he left. He later felt dizzy and nauseous.
A day later he was taken to another doctor who also confirmed that he suffered a 'mini stroke' and did a quick blod test to determine a very high cholesterol level. He has been given medication to treat this. My Mum and dad are supposed to travel by air (7hr) flight this Friday, about 5 days after the mini stroke. Is this adviceable?
Allan
Doctor's Answer
by Philip Parks, MD, Apr 18, 2008 06:26PM
, Apr 18, 2008 06:26PM
To: ATVH
Hello Allan.
I am sorry to hear about your father and I am sorry that this response was delayed.
My comments may affect future decisions, so I'll still offer some ideas for your consideration.
The Aerospace Medical Association's (ASMA) recommendation are that as long as the acute phase of a stroke has passed, a person may travel at the discretion of the treating physician. It is important that person's such as your father do not travel alone. And, I see that your mother will be accompanying him.
Some other thoughts for your consideration. Your father should not stay seated for prolonged periods of time on the flight. He should get up and walk around the airplane every 1 or 2 hours. By doing so, he will avoid getting blood clots in his legs (the medical name for this is deep vein thrombosis).
It is extremely important that your father's primary care physician address high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and any other risk factors that your father may have for a future stroke (smoking, blood vessel abnormality in the brain).
I hope your parents have/had safe travels and feel free to ask additional questions.
~•~ Dr. Parks
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice. The information presented in this posting is for patients’ education only. As always, I encourage you to see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
I am sorry to hear about your father and I am sorry that this response was delayed.
My comments may affect future decisions, so I'll still offer some ideas for your consideration.
The Aerospace Medical Association's (ASMA) recommendation are that as long as the acute phase of a stroke has passed, a person may travel at the discretion of the treating physician. It is important that person's such as your father do not travel alone. And, I see that your mother will be accompanying him.
Some other thoughts for your consideration. Your father should not stay seated for prolonged periods of time on the flight. He should get up and walk around the airplane every 1 or 2 hours. By doing so, he will avoid getting blood clots in his legs (the medical name for this is deep vein thrombosis).
It is extremely important that your father's primary care physician address high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and any other risk factors that your father may have for a future stroke (smoking, blood vessel abnormality in the brain).
I hope your parents have/had safe travels and feel free to ask additional questions.
~•~ Dr. Parks
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice. The information presented in this posting is for patients’ education only. As always, I encourage you to see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
I will ask that my dad do as you advised during his return flight home in 10 days.
He already has an appointment for follow up consultation in early May.
Regards,
Allan