As summertime approaches many people are making plans for vacations including when to 
go, where to stay, how to get there, and what activities to do once you are there. If you have asthma or a child with asthma, you should take it into consideration when planning your travel as a study finds asthma may worsen while traveling.
In his study of asthmatic travelers, Dr. Yoave Golan found that nearly 20% of his patients experienced an asthma attack during travel with 15% saying that it was their worst attack ever and 5% reporting that it was life threatening.
A few tips or things to consider when making travel plans as suggested by the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI) include:
- Check pollen counts at destination
- Request a non-smoking room
- Appropriately pack medications according to airport regulations, if flying
- Access to medical care while at your destination
- Talk to your allergist before your travel about your destination and the activities you plan on doing while there
Considering asthma into the planning of a vacation may help prevent an exacerbation while traveling.
Get more information at About.com: HERE.
Geek link (Abstract for Dr. Golan’s article in the Archives of Internal Medicine): HERE.
Find additional tips from ACAAI: HERE.
June 14, 2011
Asthma