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Valvular heart disease and fitness to fly (flying)

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Assess in terms of heart failure

Condition

Lay explanation

Restriction/guidance

Acute heart failure

You have been in hospital or treated at home because of 'water in the lungs' which made you very breathless

Fly after 6 weeks if stabilised (see chronic heart failure)

Condition

Functional status

Lay explanation

Restriction/guidance

Chronic heart failure

NYHA I&II

You get breathless on mild to moderate exercise but no recent (within 6 weeks) change of symptoms or medication

No restriction

NYHA III

You get breathless on walking 20-100 yards/metres at your own pace but no recent (within 6 weeks) change of symptoms or medication

May require in flight oxygen

NYHA IV

You are breathless at rest and mainly bedbound

Advised not to fly without in flight oxygen and medical assistance

 

Note that these are only guidelines and each airline has its own regulations and medical standards.

Reference:

  • British Heart Foundation (September 2010). Factfile - Fitness to fly for passengers with cardiovascular disease.

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