ASTHMA AND HOLIDAYS
A guide to help you enjoy your holiday
Planning ahead is the key to enjoying a successful holiday, wherever it is
in the world, and overcoming the problems of asthma. Many of our members have
succeeded on holiday because they included asthma in their general holiday
plans.
Asthma varies a lot from person to person, for example in its severity and
in what sets it off (triggers it); therefore the holiday plans you make will
need to be flexible.
Some general steps you can take
- Work out how many tablets and inhalers you will need to last the holiday
plus a few extra days. Think especially about medicines you don't use every day
such as steroid tablets.
- Talk to your doctor. He or she may help you make a treatment plan and for
people over five years old then taking a peak flow meter may help you follow
that plan. Your doctor may also give you a short course of steroid tablets with
instructions on how to use them in an emergency.
- Remember, Rotacaps and Spincaps may not work properly in hot, humid
conditions so you may want to take the same medicine in a different type of
inhaler.
- Keep a list of the medicines you have or may need and a translation if you
are going abroad. This will make it quicker and easier to get help.
- Find out when you get there how to get medical help. Ask the holiday
representative or hotel staff:
- Where the nearest telephone is (with someone to translate a call if
necessary).
- For the telephone number of an ambulance or a doctor.
- Where the nearest hospital casualty department is.
If you have a nebuliser and are going abroad ask your travel agent what
voltage the country uses and check if your nebuliser will work there. Contact
the nebuliser manufacturer if you are unclear.
Some airlines provide nebulisers if given advance notice (Virgin and Cathay
Pacific are examples), while others may be difficult about even letting you use
your own. Check with the airline before you book. If there is a problem, ask
your doctor about using an aerosol inhaler with a spacer. In an emergency you
can always use a disposable coffee cup as a mask by making a hole in the bottom
to fit over the inhaler mouthpiece. Then take 15 to 25 puffs of reliever (eg
Bricanyl or Ventolin/salbutamol) at ten second intervals. Otherwise, hand pump
nebulisers or ones with rechargeable batteries are available.
Medical pack
You should take your usual reliever and preventer medicines, and possibly
some spare prescriptions, as well as your asthma management plan and peak flow
meter.
For emergencies:
- Aerosol reliever inhaler (usually blue)
- Plastic or foam coffee cup
- Steroid tablets (eg prednisolone or Prednesol)
- Emergency action plan as discussed with your doctor
When and where to go on holiday
There is no 'best place' to go on holiday for all people with asthma, simply
because asthma varies so much from person to person.
The most useful thing you can do is to work out what triggers your asthma
and, if possible, how you could avoid those triggers. Although it is sometimes
hard to decide what triggers your asthma, it may help to think back to places
you have tried before and remember what caused any trouble there. Then you can
ask your travel agent or the country's tourist office for information on
subjects such as climate and pollution.
Remember, regular preventer treatment can help to avoid most problems; take it
regularly before and during your holiday, increasing it temporarily if the
doctor advises this.
There are some tips on avoiding particular triggers in the next section.
Trigger factors
Pollen: Different people are sensitive to different pollens. Grass
pollen is a common trigger and there are high levels in the UK from late May to
the end of July. Visiting areas with little grass, or those south of the
Equator during our summer months, may help. If you need advice about pollens
then please send an SAE and note of where you want to go at least two months in
advance to:
The Pollen Research Unit
University of North London
166-220 Holloway Road
London N7 8DB
Mould: Autumn is the worst time for people affected by mould spores.
Animals: Check that your hotel does not allow pets, as the trigger
can stay in the air for several weeks.
Exercise: You only need to avoid exercise if you have severe asthma,
although you need to be very fit if you are going on a vigorous holiday such as
mountaineering. Short bursts of activity and using a reliever inhaler or Intal
or Cromogen before exercise can help. Water sports with warm, moist air suit
many people.
House-dust mite: Make sure that the place where you will be staying
is thoroughly cleaned before you arrive and ask about synthetic pillows and
duvets. Some people take their own synthetic pillow and mattress cover with
them. The house-dust mite does not live above the snow-line on mountains. In
some countries, such as Finland and Switzerland, special low-dust rooms can be
booked: check with their tourist information offices in the UK.
Damp: Houses that are damp or near rivers may have more mould and
house-dust mites than others.
Air pollution: Air pollution can be bad in some cities and countries
such as Athens, Rome and Poland.
Cigarette smoke: This can be hard to avoid in public places,
especially in Spain, Portugal and other parts of Southern Europe.
Weather: In the south-west of England you can enjoy mild days from
quite early in spring through to late autumn. In the north, June and September
are usually drier than August. When abroad you are better off in warmth rather
than great heat: dry places may be dusty. High humidity (warm, damp air) can be
a problem, for example in Florida or Bangkok. Again, talk to your travel agent.
Some people enjoy breezy areas while for others it sets off their asthma;
remember, it is often windy by the sea.
Types of holiday
Camping and caravanning: Camping brings you especially close to
pollens, dusts from crops and possibly animals. On the other hand, you may find
a lower amount of house-dust mite than on other types of holiday (although
caravans need to be thoroughly cleaned before and after use). Make sure the
tent has a sewn-in ground sheet. Watch out for camp fire smoke and cold air on
a misty morning because both can trigger your asthma. As always, keep bedding
clean and well aired.
Cruises: While expensive, cruises do keep you away from pollen and
pets, and most cruise ships are well equipped for medical care (check before
booking).
Winter holidays: Some people prefer cold, crisp weather while others
are set off by it; those with exercise-induced asthma will often find that cold
air brings on symptoms. The good news is that house-dust rffites do not live
above the snow-line. Skiing can be strenuous and in the event of an emergency
it can be difficult to get help in remote areas but you can go for the scenery
instead. If you prefer somewhere warm why not try the Mediterranean coast,
Spain, North Africa or Greece.
Air travel: Flying times for most holidays are thankfully short. The
chances of having an attack in the plane are low. Unless you have severe
asthma, there is no need to take special medical advice about air travel. Make
it clear when you book that you must sit far away from the smoking section. If
possible, on longer flights choose an airline that has banned smoking: Air
Canada is one.
While medicines can safely be stored in aircraft holds, it is wise to take
them on board as hand luggage in case your suitcases are lost or stolen. Planes
do carry oxygen but they do not always have many medicines on board.
Finally, if you are very allergic to perfume let the cabin crew know so that
they can avoid using perfume testers near you.
National Asthma Campaign and
National Eczema Society Joint Activity
Holidays
These special holidays are for children and young people aged between 7 and 30
with asthma, eczema or both. Holidaymakers join in many activities, gaining
self-confidence and enjoying the company of others in their own age group. Each
group is accompanied by helpers, including a doctor, to supervise and guide
them. Further details are available from the
National Asthma Campaign
headquarters.
Medical expenses abroad
Anyone travelling abroad needs to consider the cost of any medical care as
it can be very expensive. if you are ill anywhere in the EC you will be charged
as though you lived in that country; you may have to pay on the spot and claim
it back later. For more information and form E111 get a copy of 'The
Traveller's Guide to Health' by telephoning 0800 555777 (free). The guide also
has information about health systems in other countries. Many people choose to
take out separate medical insurance and this is essential for countries outside
the EC. It is important to check the 'small print' of any insurance policy just
in case asthma is not covered. One insurance company may treat asthma very
differently from the next, so it may be worth shopping around.
Further information
The Holiday Care Service provides information about holidays for those with
disabilities. Topics include: transport; places where care is available; travel
insurance; sources of funding; oxygen supplies; and even volunteer helpers to
go with you.
The Holiday Care Service
2 Old Bank Chambers
Station Road
Horley
Surrey
RH6 9HW
 01293 774535
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