9 tips for travelling with an existing medical condition

With the right planning and precautions, managing a chronic condition needn’t clip your wings. Here’s how to keep travelling for as long as you want.

By Carolyn Tate

Travel is one of life’s truly enriching experiences - immersing yourself in new sights, smells, tastes, and cultures is something that never gets old… unlike ourselves. As we get older, we’re more likely to have to balance the desire to travel with managing an existing medical condition.

If you have a condition that makes you feel anxious or hesitant about jumping on a plane and flying off into the sunset, you’re not alone. But managing illness or a chronic condition doesn't have to clip your wings. With careful planning and the right precautions, you can manage your health and still get out there and explore the world.

Here are our best tips to help you set off on your adventures with confidence:

1. Choose an appropriate destination

When you’re planning your trip, consider factors like the quality of healthcare at your destination, ease of travel, and climate. Research potential destinations thoroughly, keeping your specific health needs in mind. 

For example, someone with arthritis might prefer to travel somewhere with a cooler climate to minimise joint pain. Or, if you’re managing a condition that can require emergency care at short notice, look into the healthcare systems of your potential destinations and consider how you’ll be able to access care if and when you need it. You can find more information about medical assistance overseas at the Australian government’s Smart Traveller website.

2. Get medical clearance

It’s important to talk to your GP before booking any trip. This isn't just about getting permission to travel; it's also an opportunity to have a detailed conversation about your travel plans and how they might impact your health. 

Your GP should be able to provide valuable advice, such as suggesting medication adjustments during your trip. Medications may affect you differently when flying, or you may need a new schedule to allow for different time zones. Your doctor may also recommend specific precautions based on your destination. In addition, you may need a new prescription with extra repeats, depending on how long you plan to be away.

This is also a good time to contact the airline you’re travelling with to discuss your additional needs. Check to see if there are requirements to carry or use any medical device you need. For example, if you use any mobility aids, staff can support you with wheelchairs, ramps or lifts from check-in to your boarding gate or prepare to store your own items on board. If you require oxygen or electronic equipment during the flight, make sure you arrange this with the airline well in advance.

3. Carry your medical essentials

This one may sound obvious at first, but it’s essential to not just pack the medication you need – always pack more than you think you'll need, as well as copies of your prescriptions. 

Ask your GP to give you a letter detailing your condition, medications, and any medical devices you use that may set off metal detectors or alarms. This could be important when you’re going through airport security or in case of a medical emergency.

If you use any electronic devices for your health (such as a CPAP machine), ensure you carry the correct adaptors with you. If your device has a battery back-up, change or charge the batteries before you go to ensure they have maximum charge in case of emergency. 

Keep these items in your carry-on luggage to ensure you're never separated from them. We all know how regularly lost luggage happens!

4. Check your immunisations

Check which vaccinations are required for your destination, and talk to your GP or a travel clinic about what is appropriate for you.

Some travel immunisations can interact with existing medications or health conditions, so don’t assume the regular recommendations apply.

If you have access to a specialist travel doctor, it’s worthwhile seeing them in addition to your regular GP. They’ll have the most up-to-date information on disease risk and outbreaks in the country you’re visiting. Travel specialists also have excellent country-specific advice on staying healthy (and often bonus insider travel tips), no matter where you’re travelling.

5. Take out comprehensive travel insurance

Only a handful of travel insurers cover existing medical conditions. There is usually a list of conditions that are automatically covered under their usual insurance plan, followed by a list of conditions that require more information before they will consider cover.

Depending on your condition, you may need to take out a policy that specifically covers your health issues. While this may be an extra expense, the peace of mind specific cover provides can be invaluable.

Note: always check the insurer's PDS for a specific list of conditions to ensure you’re covered.

6. Take care during the flight

Long flights can be extra-challenging if you’re managing a health condition. If you’re able, there are certain things you can do to reduce your discomfort.

Consider wearing compression socks to help prevent blood clots and limit diuretics like caffeine and alcohol intake during the flight. Instead drink plenty of water as dehydration can exacerbate the symptoms of many chronic conditions like migraines, arthritis and high-blood pressure. Get into the habit of drinking enough water that you need to get up to use the toilet regularly.

Speaking of which, exercise is another flight discomfort soother, plus it reduces your risk of experiencing muscle and joint pain, cramps or deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Qantas recommends performing these 6 exercises during your flight – most you do while seated, but a couple while standing. Now is not the time to worry about what others think of you!

You should also set your watch to the time zone you’re travelling to from the moment you get on the plane. That way you can start your new medication (and hopefully sleep) schedule as soon as you board. One more tip here: if you need to take medication during the flight, set an alarm to remind you.

More here: flying soon? Safeguard your health in the air.

7. Minimise health risks at your destination

Don’t be flippant when it comes to general health precautions at your destination – you need to be extra vigilant!

We’re talking about frequent, careful hand washing or sanitising; drinking only sealed, bottled water in certain countries; and being cautious about what you eat, especially street food.

Pack a small first aid kit with essentials like your prescriptions, general pain relief, anti-diarrhoea medication, antiseptic lotion, hand sanitiser, insect repellent, sunscreen and band-aids. Ask your GP or travel specialist what other everyday essentials they recommend for your kit.

In addition, if you are managing a mental health condition you may need to prepare for potential triggers while you’re abroad. Travelling is wonderful, but it’s also very stressful, so prepare for how added pressures like culture shock, jet lag, separation from family or the huge change to your normal routine, may affect your mental health. Your GP or mental health professional can guide you on how best to prepare.

8. Know the local laws about your medications

Some medications that are common here might be illegal in another country. For instance, Smart Traveller advises that commonly restricted drugs include:

• Amphetamines, such as ADHD medications
• Medical marijuana/cannabis
• Opioid-based painkillers, such as codeine
• Medication containing pseudoephedrine, such as cold and flu tablets
• Sleeping pills
• Anti-anxiety and antidepressant medications

Check the embassy website of your destination country for information about bringing in prescription drugs. In some cases, you might need to carry a letter from your GP or obtain special permission to carry your prescribed medication into the country. You may also need to ensure you carry quantities that are appropriate only for your use while you’re at your destination, and not too much more, to avoid any accusations of trafficking.

9. Research local attitudes towards your condition

Understanding local perceptions of your health condition can make a big difference to your travel experience.

For those with mobility issues, research the accessibility of your destination, and think about how you’ll get around while you’re there.

If you're managing a mental health condition, it could help to look into local attitudes towards mental illness. This knowledge can help you navigate social situations more comfortably and know what to expect in terms of support or understanding while you’re there.

While an existing medical condition does add extra items to your ‘to do’ list, hopefully it doesn’t have to add extra stress as well. Countless thousands of people successfully travel every day with chronic illness and you can rest assured they are very glad they did. With proper planning and a positive approach, you can join them whenever you’re ready.

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