Tips for Traveling with Asthma
- drnatprevatt
- Oct 14
- 3 min read
Travelling can be one of life's greatest joys, but asthmatics might worry about encountering unexpected triggers. This blog provides you with essential tips to manage your childs (and your own) asthma on your next adventure.
Understanding Asthma and Travel
Asthma is a chronic condition that inflames and narrows the airways, leading to chest tightness, wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath. While traveling, various factors can trigger these symptoms, including changes in climate, new allergens, and increased stress levels.
By understanding your childs asthma triggers, you can take steps to minimize their risk during travel. For instance, if cold air is a trigger for them, don't pick the coldest seats on the plane!
Asthmatics may experience worse symptoms in travel due to:
Respiratory infections which are common in travellers passing through ports
Not adhering to medication during travel and holiday fun
Increased exertion such as rushing through airports with heavy baggage
Stress of unfamiliar situations
Inhaling cold air in the plane (*dry air in the plane is a trigger for some but not many)
New Allergens- pollen, new animals, dust, excessive pool chlorine, smoke from open fires and street cooking
Air pollution at your destination
Smoke from a pipe in street during travel Check for air pollution (air quality index -AQI) by country and by town here: https://aqicn.org/map/world/
🧳 Before you travel:
See your GP or asthma nurse to:
Get an asthma review
Ask for extra meds incase of lost luggage
Get a letter explaining your condition and medications for airport staff
Ask for a written asthma action plan and emergency plan if you don’t already have one
Check the condition is covered on your travel insurance, ie Make sure it covers pre-existing conditions and emergency treatment abroad.
Bring twice as much medication as you need (half in hand luggage, half in checked luggage), including:
-> Your reliever inhaler (e.g. salbutamol)
-> Your preventer inhaler/ monteleukast/ steroid (if prescribed)
-> Spacer device (if you use one)
-> Peak flow meter (if you use one)
-> Emergency exacerbation plan
-> Emergency oral steroids (if prescribed)
Check on the specifics of your trip. For example, if you're flying to a city known for high pollution or during a season with high pollen counts, your doctor might suggest adjusting your medications.
Know how to contact emergency services in the destination country and learn the generic name of your medications in case you need replacements
💉A note on Vaccines: They are not contraindicated in asthma
✈️ During Travel
Carry your reliever inhaler with you at all times
Notify cabin crew early if they’re feeling wheezy
Don't miss regular medications due to time zone changes
🧳 At your destination
Set alarms for Asthma medication if busy or if there is a big time difference
🤿 A note on: Diving with asthma
If there is airway tightening then the expansion of air on ascent from diving could cause lung damage, as such children and young people with exacerbations should never dive. Diving should not be undertaken within 48 hours of using rescue medication.
Those with exercise and/or cold-induced asthma should not dive, even in warmer waters. Some people with other asthma triggers may be able to dive safely if they get medical clearance.
🏔️A note on: Altitude and asthma
Some asthmatics improve at high altitude due to the lack of allergens in the air, while increased exertion and low air temperatures may be a problem for others.
✈️ Ways to reduce the risk of an exacerbation in travel:
Avoid making kids run by leaving extra time
Pre check their luggage isn't too heavy
Carry inhalers and antihistamines in hand luggage
Take your own hypoallergenic pillow if needed
Set alarms for medication
If cold air is a trigger wearing a mask or scalf over the mouth in flight can help warm the air they are breathing in -and avoid the coldest seats which are the big ones next to the emergency exit!
✈️ Where to pack inhalers in flight
Inhalers and spacers should be kept on the child or in hand baggage
Pack spares in hold baggage
Travel safe!
