Tips for traveling with ppok so that you can travel

Difficulty breathing is a hallmark of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) caused by smoking. As a result, many people suffering from this disease are reluctant to travel far from home. Even though, traveling may be one way to relieve stress due to a series of COPD medications that you may be taking. Of course, COPD patients can and are allowed to travel long distances as long as they know the tips for traveling with COPD.

With proper and thorough preparation, there is no reason for COPD patients not to be able to travel wherever they like, be it for a few hours or several weeks. Come on, take a peek at the tips traveling with the following COPD.

What are the tips traveling for COPD patients?

Here are some tips you can do before traveling when you have COPD:

1. Visit a doctor

Tips traveling with COPD the most important thing is to visit your doctor. This is the first and most important thing before deciding to travel.

Discuss your travel plans with your doctor. By visiting the doctor, you will get an honest assessment from the doctor about how far you can afford to travel.

You can also get input about your needs during the trip. One of the questions you can ask is about the need for extra oxygen, especially if you are traveling by plane.

2. Get vaccinated

Next tip if you want traveling with COPD you have, get vaccinated.

Make sure to get the latest vaccinations, including the flu shot (influenza vaccine) and the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) to protect yourself from pneumonia. Find out other adult vaccinations you may need to avoid complications from COPD. COPD patients are also more susceptible to pneumonia, an inflammation of the lungs, which can result in unwanted hospitalizations.

3. Check the equipment

Checking the equipment can be one of the tips traveling with COPD which is no less important. Ask your doctor to check your equipment, such as a nebulizer, compressor and portable oxygen concentrator, which you will use while traveling to prevent possible damage.

In addition, you should also simulate using a nebulizer before going on a trip. This is useful for knowing whether you can operate it yourself or need someone else's help.

4. Discuss the purpose of the trip

Tell your doctor about the destination of your trip. That way you can get advice that can help anticipate worsening of COPD symptoms. Travel to a high place (plateau) can trigger shortness of breath or hypoxemia (low blood oxygen).

In fact, patients who are not using oxygen therapy at home may need it when traveling there. That is why discussing the purpose of the trip with the doctor is one of the tips traveling for COPD patients the most important thing to do.

5. Prepare for challenging weather

Check the forecast and weather reports of the area you are going to go to. Avoid traveling to areas that are full of smoke and fog or traveling when the season in the destination country is a potential problem. When traveling by car, use air conditioning and keep windows closed, especially in dusty and smoky air conditions that can cause lung irritation.

6. Make a deal with the airline

COPD patients cannot use personal oxygen compressors (gas in cylinders or liquid oxygen) on board. However, airlines may permit the use of battery-operated portable oxygen therapy.

The Cleveland Clinic recommends that you check whether the equipment you are using is approved for use on board. You should also prepare a certificate from your doctor stating that you have COPD and need oxygen therapy.

The rules of each airline company can be different and can change at any time. So, it is very important to contact their customer service a few weeks in advance of your travel schedule. Ask the airline representative what you need to do to get extra oxygen on board.

7. Make agreements with trains and buses before traveling

If you go by train or bus, some transport companies allow you to carry portable oxygen equipment (bottled oxygen and oxygen concentrators) that do not rely solely on the electricity from the vehicle.

However, again, you should check with them. If you are traveling overseas, check with the bus or train at your destination as policies can vary.

8. Find out which health services are along the route

Are you using a compressed oxygen cylinder? On the way by car, mark the places you can go to purchase additional cylinders along the route. This is very useful in case you malfunction or run out of supplies.

Also ask if your oxygen provider may have branches along the route you are traveling on. The same is true if you need additional batteries for a battery-operated portable oxygen concentrator.

By knowing the tips traveling with COPD, you can take care of yourself and prevent your COPD from getting worse during the trip. However, of course it would be better if you travel with a family who can help at all times and who understands your illness.

By following the tips traveling with COPD above, have a pleasant trip and make yourself fresher and happier.