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I Have An Enlarged Heart - I Have Been Taking
Posted on
Sun, 19 Jan 2020
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Sun, 19 Jan 2020
Answered on
Last reviewed on
Question : I have an enlarged heart - I have been taking condecor for a year. after 6months appoinments to my caridologist my condition has been stable for a year now. I would like to be able to fly from Germany where I reside to the US but my cardiologist has strongly recommended against it. Is there any other Treatment which could make such a plan possible.
Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome on - Ask a Doctor - service!
I understand your concern and would like to explain that flying is by far the safest way to travel in case of cardiac patients (whether heart failure or other cardiac issues are present).
Anyways, when considering such a relatively long flight, it is necessary to review the current clinical conditions and get some clear answers:
Is your blood pressure stable? Do episodes of hypotension occur when making daily physical efforts? Do you experience shortness of breathing during minimal efforts or at rest? Do you have an undisturbed sleep or suffer from nocturnal dyspnea? Do you have leg edema? Is it necessary for you to take any oxygen supply?
In case you don't experience such adverse events, you are safe to travel and you flight would be most probably uneventful.
But even if you experience difficulties, such as shortness of breathing, you may still travel considering the fact a therapy optimisation would be required. Increasing diuretics daily dose (and switching from Hydrochlorothiazide to Furosemide) would be helpful to stabilize would respiratory function.
You should discuss with your attending doctor on the above mentioned issues.
In case of any further questions, feel free to ask me again.
Kind regards,
Dr. Ilir Sharka
cardiologist
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome on - Ask a Doctor - service!
I understand your concern and would like to explain that flying is by far the safest way to travel in case of cardiac patients (whether heart failure or other cardiac issues are present).
Anyways, when considering such a relatively long flight, it is necessary to review the current clinical conditions and get some clear answers:
Is your blood pressure stable? Do episodes of hypotension occur when making daily physical efforts? Do you experience shortness of breathing during minimal efforts or at rest? Do you have an undisturbed sleep or suffer from nocturnal dyspnea? Do you have leg edema? Is it necessary for you to take any oxygen supply?
In case you don't experience such adverse events, you are safe to travel and you flight would be most probably uneventful.
But even if you experience difficulties, such as shortness of breathing, you may still travel considering the fact a therapy optimisation would be required. Increasing diuretics daily dose (and switching from Hydrochlorothiazide to Furosemide) would be helpful to stabilize would respiratory function.
You should discuss with your attending doctor on the above mentioned issues.
In case of any further questions, feel free to ask me again.
Kind regards,
Dr. Ilir Sharka
cardiologist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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