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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - Management
What should I advise a person with COPD about air travel?
- Advise the person with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who is considering air travel that they will need a fitness-to-fly assessment.
- If the person has known bullous disease, warn them that they are at theoretical increased risk of pneumothorax during air travel.
- Refer people on long-term oxygen therapy or who have a forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) less than 50% to a specialist. A hypoxic challenge test may be appropriate.
- Advise people with COPD to:
- Carry inhalers in hand luggage.
- Inform the airline if they require wheelchairs for transport to and from the aeroplane.
- Keep mobile during the flight if possible. Leg exercises should be done as often as possible during the flight.
- Avoid smoking and alcohol before and during air travel.
- Inform the airline (when booking the holiday) if they require oxygen.
- People who have ambulatory oxygen may be able to use their own oxygen, but they must inform the airline before flying, and a fee may be charged.
- People requiring oxygen should request a seat near the toilets to avoid long walks.
- Provide written information.
- For further information, see www.brit-thoracic.org.uk, www.lunguk.org, and www.european-lung-foundation.org.
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