Travelling with Hypertension: Guidelines for Hypertensive Patients

Most of you are well-aware of the serious circumstances pertaining to high blood pressure. However, you should not allow hypertension to become a roadblock to your travel plans. Many hypertensive patients travel for work or vacation. Whether you’re a frequent traveller or do so occasionally, you just need to follow certain guidelines and you’re good to go.Apart from taking extra care of your health, right from what you eat and drink to taking your medicines on time, high BP patients need to adhere to some basic precautionary measures while travelling. All this is just to avoid any instances that might aggravate your blood pressure and to ensure you stay hale and hearty throughout the trip.

Let’s take a look at some of these tips and guidelines which will help you make the most of your holiday and the much-needed break from your daily routine.

TRAVEL GUIDELINES & TIPS FOR HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS

Get a BP and health check-up done prior to your travel plans

Plan ahead to avoid stressful situations

Buy a travel health insurance

Carry a portable BP monitor

Carry extra medicines to be prepared in case of travel extensions

Refrain from indulging in high adrenaline activities like sky diving, parasailing, etc.

Stay hydrated and avoid salty foods

Avoid drinking alcohol or smoking altogether

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Just a little bit of planning is all you need for a smooth-sailing trip. So, the following tips will help you plan and execute your trip better if you are a hypertensive patient.

• If you are taking the plane, reach the airport early. It gives you plenty of time to check-in and go through security. During your flight, avoid eating junk foods loaded with salt, and also alcohol. Remember to stay well hydrated as well.
• Whether you’re taking the bus or the flight, keep additional blood pressure medication in your purse or carry-on bag. You should even carry portable blood pressure machines so you can keep a track of your blood pressure values.
• As mentioned before, it is always useful to carry extra medication. Make sure you have enough to last for the entire duration of the trip and some more, just in case your trip is delayed. In case of emergency, you can always buy some more at the local pharmacy. If you are travelling abroad, carry a copy of the prescription with you.
• Buy travel insurance in advance to make sure you are properly insured in case of an emergency.

All modes of travel are mostly fine if you have your blood pressure under control and are taking the right precautions. However, if your blood pressure is unstable, then you should talk to your cardiologist before you make any travel plans. For more information on blood pressure, you can browse through our articles. You can even get in touch with a physician or cardiologist near you, just visit.

Note of caution: This article is for information purposes only. Always consult your doctor before altering any diet plans, medications or in case of any other blood pressure-related troubles.