When You are Too Sick to Fly

The Commission On Emergency Medical Services of the American Medical Association has published a list of several medical conditions which may make it dangerous for you to fly. Most of the dangers arise because of (i) the reduced cabin air pressure, (ii) the lowered oxygen content of the air in the cabin, (iii) the motion of the plane, (iv) the stress of traveling or (v) the unavailability of adequate medical treatment if something should go wrong.

Among the more prominent items on the list:
• Severe high blood pressure or heart disease, particularly if you've had a heart attack within 30 days or a stroke within 14 days.

• Pneumothorax (air outside the lung).

• Cysts of the lung or severe lung disease.

• Acute sinusitis or middle ear infections.

• Abdominal surgery within 14 days, acute diverticulitis or ulcerative colitis, acute esophageal virices or acute gastroenteritis.

• Severe anemia, sickle cell disease (above 22,500 feet) or hemophilia with active bleeding.

• Recent eye surgery.

• Wired jaws.

• Pregnancy beyond 240 days (or less if threatened miscarriage).

• Epilepsy (unless medically controlled and cabin air pressure is below 8,000 feet).

• Recent skull fracture.

• Brain tumors.

• Violent and unpredictable behavior.

• Scuba divers if within 24 hours of last dive (because of danger of the bends).

Go Back to Planefood and Health
Go Back to Jokes
Go Back to Cabin Decompression Homepage

HOMEPAGE	JOKES	CLICKS	WRITE	GUESTBOOK