Medical Evaluation
As stated above, the vast majority of travelers can fly quite safely. If a
passenger
has significant preexisting illness or an unstable medical condition, a
physician should
be consulted before planning to travel by air. This is
particularly
true for those with heart or lung disease including angina pectoris, congestive
heart failure, myocardial infarction (heart attack), asthma, and emphysema.
Other significant illnesses would include a history of deep venous thrombosis
(blood cl
ots), seizure disorder, stroke, and
diabetes. In
such cases, your
physician might want to do a preflight evaluation. Vaccination and other travel
health requirements should also be checked well in advance of travel abroad.
If the physician has fully reviewed the prospective traveler’s condition and
there is
any question regarding the suitability to fly or any special requests for
assistance, the
airline should be contacted well ahead of travel