Can I fly with a blocked carotid artery?


Can I fly with a blocked carotid artery? These data suggest that patients with carotid artery occlusion are able to tolerate the relatively hypobaric and hypoxemic changes that accompany commercial airplane flight.


Can you fly if you have a blocked carotid artery?

It is recommended for travelers with blocked arteries to remain on the lookout for shortness of breath or other symptoms that would show that the situation is becoming risky. This is why a medical escort is ideal if you have a blocked artery and you need to fly.


What illness can you not fly with?

if you suffer from or have had:
  • angina or chest pain at rest.
  • an infectious disease (e.g. chickenpox, flu), including COVID-19.
  • decompression sickness after diving (sometimes called 'the bends')
  • increased pressure in the brain (due to bleeding, injury or infection)
  • infection of your ears or sinuses.
  • recent heart attack.


Does flying affect blood pressure?

Your blood pressure could rise
The higher you are in the sky, the less oxygen your body will carry, and less oxygen means higher blood pressure. If you typically have a regular blood pressure or even a low blood pressure, this increase will likely have no effect on you.