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Is A Long Flight Advisable When Having High BP?

Posted on Tue, 9 Jun 2015

Question: I need advice about a long haul flight and my high blood pressure .

Answered by Dr. Benard Shehu (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Following advice.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

I understand your concern.

1. You are saying that you take thyroxine for your thyroid problems. I advise to measure the levels of the thyroid hormone.

If it will result altered then the dosage of thyroxine should be adjusted in order to normalise the levels. If normal, then adjustment of antihypertensive treatment is recommended;

2. Add an ARB (valsartan ) or amlodipine to your therapy.

3. Reduce the amount of salt intake

4. chamomile tea can help during long haul flight.

5. discuss with your doctor to start an anxiolytic medication to improve stress/anxiety problems during the journey .

Hope it was of help!
Dr.Benard

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Benard Shehu (36 minutes later)

I have already had some advice from " Ask A Doctor " a couple of days ago , with the same advice , so I spoke with my GP yesterday , and was told the Thyroid test I had done last February , was o k ...I think it was done during a full blood count ?.
I am on Bisoprolol fumerate 2.5 mg , one daily .....However my BP is not too bad in the daytime ! Its when I am asleep that my BP rises very high , several times in the early hours ..My heart is pounding all over my body , it wakes me up and I am on fire ... my throat like sand ..then icy cold . I have to get up , and I feel dreadful , and desperately tired !!
I am due to take a long haul flight to Palm XXXXXXX CA , on the 7 XXXXXXX ??
My fear is during the flight my BP will rise very high , as the medication i am on has not had any affect on my BP . Am I right to be concerned .

I have already had the same advice from " Ask A Doctor " a couple of days ago .
So i spoke with my GP yesterday, and was told that my Thyroid test I had done in February was O K ! I think it was done during a full blood count ?.
i am on Bisoproplol 2.5 mg per day. .However my BP is reasonable during the day !!
It is when I am asleep that my BP gets very high ... Like 177 / 100 / 70 last night ? Several times during the early hours it wakes me up , my heart is pounding all over my body ,.. I am on fire ,...throat like sand , then icy cold , feeling dreadful and desperately tired !! I am due to take a long haul flight on the 7 XXXXXXX to Palm XXXXXXX CA ..and I am concerned about the risk involved ! ....My fear is that during
the flight my BP will rise very high as the Meds i am on are not controlling the BP.
I really need some no nonsense advice pleas

Answered by Dr. Benard Shehu (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Following advice.

Detailed Answer:
Hi back,

It's a great thing that the thyroid hormone levels are ok and you don't need to adjust the dose of thyroxine.

Since your BP are high especially during the night i would recommend to add amlodipine 5mg at evening.

Also i would recommend to add xanax 0.25mg 1 pill before departure to relieve anxiety and to avoid hypertensive crisis.

Wish you health!
Dr. Shehu

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Benard Shehu (35 minutes later)

Would the Thyroid test be better carried out by an endercronologist ??.

thank you ,...I will try and follow your advice and see my GP.

Answered by Dr. Benard Shehu (30 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Following advice.

Detailed Answer:
Hi back,

Yes you are right, thyroid test should be interpreted by endocrinologist.

Wish you health!
Dr. Shehu

Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar