Dreaming of relaxing at a faraway beach on some tropical island for this upcoming summer?
Well, if you have asthma, it could be a bit more difficult to achieve. While many others can just book a trip, fill their suitcase, and go, you’ll want to take your health into more consideration. Most don’t have to worry about being able to breathe. It’s a natural action. But asthma turns that natural action into an obstacle, inflaming your airways and limiting your ability to take in much-needed oxygen. And if you’re not careful, it can be deadly.
But that doesn’t mean your dream trip will always stay a dream! All you need is more thorough planning before making your vacation plunge. So here are some tips to help you get started!
Tip #1: Make sure you’ve prepared for your medical needs.
Firstly, you’ll want to focus your travel plans around your asthma. Traveling far without considering how well your asthma will react is a recipe for a medical emergency. To avoid that, prepare with the following in mind:
- Stock up on medication — Your asthma will only stay under control if you use your maintenance medication, so don’t forget to get as much of your prescription of ATROVENT® HFA (ipratropium bromide) or other medication as needed. You can cut the cost of this venture by shipping medication like ipratropium bromide through an international or Canadian pharmacy referral service, such as Canada Meds United.
- Get paperwork that will allow you to bring medication — Some countries are very strict about foreigners bringing in drugs, so you’ll want to show you that you need your medication. To do so, either take the area from your most recent prescription slip that lists all of your medication or ask your doctor to create a letter for you that includes a list of your needed medication.
- Hold onto your asthma action plan — Bring copies of the plan you and your doctor created for your asthma management to remind you of any steps you need to take to stay safe and healthy.
Tip #2: Consider getting travel insurance.
As part of your preparation, you may also want to think about buying travel insurance. This insurance will help cover medical costs that a European Health Insurance Card might not. For instance, it can cover emergency or non-emergency help, which can include asthma assistance or replacing a lost passport.
Tip #3: Learn a few foreign phrases.
Lastly, take the time to learn the language of the place you’re traveling to. Not only does it show locals that you’ve taken a sincere interest in their area; it also shows them when you need help. So if you’re having an asthma attack and need help, you can just utter a few phrases like an asthma attack or can’t breathe to let them know and get some desired assistance.
If you take these tips to heart, you’re sure to reach your dream beach without any asthma nightmares to worry about. So take a deep breath, lay back, and enjoy that summer sun!
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