A pacemaker allows patients to resume an active life. After a wound healing period and a period of acclimation, most patients do not notice it at all. People with a pacemaker can work and play sports. Once the device is implanted and properly adjusted, a normal everyday life can be led. The individual organization of life includes leisure activities, which, in addition to practicing hobbies, also include traveling with a pacemaker.
Vacation despite a sick heart
For most people who have a pacemaker can travel without restrictions. A limited ability to travel with a pacemaker is not due to the implanted device, but to a severe underlying cardiac condition. Normally, a patient is fit to travel three weeks after the device has been implanted. The guideline for fitness to travel is a physical capacity at which 75 watts are achieved. Patients with pacemakers can sunbathe while on vacation. The climate and the cold or hot temperatures at the vacation destination as well as the UV radiation have no influence on the aggregate of the device. However, sunburn can cause irritation in the area of the unit pocket. Patients with pacemakers have to accept restrictions during diving vacations. In deeper waters, the pressure under water increases. This increased pressure is transmitted inside the body from the tissue to the pacemaker. At diving depths of more than five meters, tissue fluids can be forced into the pacemaker, damaging the electronics. Before starting the vacation trip, the last aggregate control should not be longer than half a year ago. If a longer trip is planned, the check-up should be brought forward in order to bring the probe function and battery level to the optimal value and to read out the error memory so that the pacemaker can be adjusted correctly. The manufacturer of the units can provide information on whether it is possible to check the pacemaker in the vacation country. The attending physician has addresses of cardiologists and hospitals in the planned travel country. These addresses are important for obtaining competent medical care in the event of complaints that may occur despite a well-adjusted device. Possible complaints that require the help of a specialist include a slow heartbeat and muscle twitching around the device. Also, if the area of the body around the pacemaker is red or causes pain, treatment must be obtained at the resort. This also applies if the outline of the device can be seen or felt under the skin from the outside. If treatment for other illnesses is required at the vacation destination, medical staff and the attending physicians must always be informed immediately about the pacemaker. In most cases, medical examinations and treatments do not affect the functioning of the pacemaker. However, special precautions are necessary for some medical procedures. These include short-wave therapy and therapeutic ultrasound.
On the road by plane
Long car trips are more stressful for the heart than a short plane ride. Long-haul flights increase the risk of thrombosis because the air in the plane is dry and passengers sit for long periods. Compression stockings should be worn during the flight for prevention. The feet must also be moved regularly while seated. If the flight lasts longer than five hours, an anticoagulant medication injected under the skin before travel can be useful.
On the road by car and train
To prevent embolism during long trips by train or car, regular breaks are important. The pacemaker patient must get up regularly and walk around a bit. The pacemaker does not affect fitness to drive. There is always the obligation to wear a seat belt. An exemption from the general seat belt obligation is not possible. In the event of an accident, there is no risk of the seat belt damaging the unit. It is not advisable to be with the upper part of the body too close to a running engine during repairs on the car. Electrical ignition can interfere with the pacemaker’s function.
What to do at the security checkpoint?
There are metal parts in the pacemaker that can set off an alarm in a security lock.However, a security gate cannot damage the pacemaker. Before the security check, the security personnel should be informed about the presence of the pacemaker. A check by hand is gentler, as the metal detectors used at the airport can influence the unit. The interference occurs only as long as the metal detector is held over the pacemaker area. By showing the patient’s ID card, a manual security check is usually possible. In addition, unnecessary triggering of an alarm by the security system is prevented. If a manual security screening is declined, security personnel should perform the screening quickly and refrain from holding the metal detector directly over the pacemaker.
With the right preparation, it works
With proper preparation, patients with a pacemaker can travel without problems. Check-ups must have been performed regularly. The device should be properly adjusted and the device identification card should definitely be in the hand luggage. Addresses of cardiologists and hospitals, which are familiar with the treatment of pacemaker patients, are asked for before starting the journey. During the journey to the vacation destination, sufficient exercise and fluid intake should be ensured to prevent embolisms. At the destination, medical attention should be sought immediately if discomfort occurs around the body area of the device and if the heart rate is weak. At security checkpoints and during passenger checks at airports, the pacemaker should be pointed out and, if possible, a security check by hand should be chosen. At any doctor’s visit not related to the pacemaker, information about the pacemaker must also always be provided.
