Aa
7 hour Air Travel 1 week after a 'mini stroke'
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
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
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.
Thank you for your advice, my parents sought further medical advice and had decided to make the trip, they both arrived safely today.
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
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
You are reading content posted in the Travel Medicine / Vaccination / Immunization Forum
Discharge often isn't normal, and could mean an infection or an STD.
In this unique and fascinating report from Missouri Medicine, world-renowned expert Dr. Raymond Moody examines what really happens when we almost die.
Think a loved one may be experiencing hearing loss? Here are five warning signs to watch for.
When it comes to your health, timing is everything
We’ve got a crash course on metabolism basics.
Learn what you can do to avoid ski injury and other common winter sports injury.
