Fitness to Fly

Patients with chronic lung conditions who wish to undertake air travel need to assess if they are fit enough to fly.

When flying in a commercial plane it can reach up to 40 000 feet above sea level. We could not survive at this altitude, hence the cabin is pressurised.

Even with the pressurised cabin there is lower oxygen available. To combat this most people will automatically increase their breathing rate and a healthy adult can experience a 5% drop in SpO2.

This oxygen drop becomes more pronounced in patients with already low levels, who may require oxygen during the flight.

Respiratory labs in major hospital can simulate conditions of an air flight to see how far a patients oxygen levels may fall. If oxygen levels fall below 85% then a patients physician may recommend that oxygen is used during the flight. Patients should contact their airline to arrange in flight supplemented oxygen.

Studies in the United States have concluded that approximately 10% of all in air medical emergencies are related to a lung condition and this is the third most common reason for an emergency landing.

There are some tips to help keep people with lung disease healthy while flying;

1. Don't fly if you are unwell. The rule of thumb here is you should have returned to your normal level of health seven days prior to flying.

2.Consider not only the flight but the destination of the flight. Will the climate of the place you are visiting have any effect on your health?

3. Make sure you have travel insurance for the place you are travelling too.

4. Request a seat close to the toilet so you can minimise any activity on the flight that may further impact on your oxygen levels.

Jessica