Are you planning for your year-end travels?
While preparation varies from person to person, for someone with hypertension, consulting the doctor on your blood pressure management needs to be included in your pre travel plans.
You are guaranteed a better time on your holidays when you have a good control over your hypertension.
Here are five ways you can manage your blood pressure during your travels:
- Drink sufficient water during your flight. The dry conditions on the plane can cause dehydration. When that happens, your blood pressure may change.
- Get up and walk around frequently, especially during long haul flights, to ensure good blood circulation
- Adjust the timing to take your medicines based on your new time zone. Ensure you do not take more than the prescribed amount in a 24 hour window.
- Pack extra medicines, for unforeseen situations such as having to stay longer than expected.
- Bring a copy of your prescription with you so that you can get the medications from a local doctor should you lose your medication.
Another area to note is the effects of high altitude on your blood pressure.
A report done by the American Heart Association in 2021 casts light on the impact of physical activity at high altitude on people with heart conditions.
While high blood pressure exists at any elevation, it is worth noting that your risk of developing hypertension is higher when you are at high altitude.
This is because the higher we go, the lower our oxygen intakes become. And when that happens, our heart will have to work harder to provide the same amount of oxygen to tissues. Thus, causing a temporary spike in our blood pressure, until the body adapts to the oxygen level.
A person who has an existing heart condition or blood pressure issue may need to take extra precaution as they are running a risk of the heart muscles not meeting the body’s demands for blood and oxygen. Some symptoms they may experience include breathlessness, extreme fatigue or water retention at the limbs. Such symptoms are signs of heart failure and require immediate medical attention.
So what can you do?
- Speak to your doctor before you travel. You may need to adjust your hypertension or heart medications.
- Increase the altitude gradually; give your body time to acclimatise.
- Remember to stay hydrated!
- Avoid alcohol if possible.
- Know the signs! Always keep a lookout for signs of heart failure. Make sure you know where to get help.
References
https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/JAHA.121.023225
https://tdtmvjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40794-023-00199-5
https://www.internationaljournalofcardiology.com/article/S0167-5273(19)31646-8/fulltext
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19278350/
Book Appointment Call Us Today
About Dr Adrian Mondry
Dr Adrian Mondry is a Hypertension Specialist accredited by the German Hypertension League in Singapore. He was previously a senior consultant in the department of medicine at the National University Hospital and Ng Teng Fong General Hospital (NTFGH), Dr Mondry has more than 30 years of experience in the field of internal medicine.
Dr Adrian Mondry is recognised for his leadership and contributions in establishing the dedicated hypertension clinic within the National University Health System and fast-track deep vein thrombosis service at NTFGH.
Dr Adrian Mondry is fluent in English, German and French.
About Kaizen Medical
Kaizen Medical is located at Mount Elizabeth Novena Specialist Centre, Suite 11-57.
At Kaizen, we provide in depth health care to patients with multi-organs diseases; tackling undifferentiated presentations that cannot be easily assigned to a single organ.
