7 Travel Tips for Recurrent Pericarditis

Traveling while you’re experiencing a flare is probably a bad idea. Recurrent pericarditis “is still thought of as an acute [condition],” says Tarak Rambhatla, MD, a cardiologist with Miami Cardiac and Vascular Institute, part of Baptist Health South Florida. “I wouldn’t think of it as traveling with a chronic condition that you’re just living with. If you’re in an acute flare or phase, we would [recommend] activity restrictions.”

Planning ahead goes a long way. Be honest about how you’re feeling before you leave, and take the following steps to help lower your risk of a pericarditis flare and avoid serious complications while you’re away.

Start With an Honest Health Check

Before you book a trip, pause and check in with your body — and your doctor.

Are your symptoms quiet? Has your care team cleared you for travel? A quick visit or telehealth call with your doctor can help you make sure your medications, timing, and plan are all aligned. It’s also a good time to ask what to do if symptoms arise while you’re away.

If you’re dealing with chest pain or a fever, Dr. Rambhatla advises staying home. “Ideal stability is a symptom-free and acute phase of suppression,” he says. “If you have a recurrence of symptoms and have chest pain or fevers again ... you should go to the hospital [rather than the airport.]"

It also helps to know where you stand in your treatment. Your numbers should be trending in the right direction — inflammation going down, not up — before you travel, he says.

Conserve Your Energy

Travel days can drain you quickly. Airports alone can take more out of you than you may expect.

“You will be doing new things, and your food and [energy] levels might not be in [your] control,” says Rambhatla, which is why pacing matters. Take steps to guard your energy:

• Use wheelchair assistance at the airport. Even if you don’t feel like you need it, a wheelchair could help you save energy for later.
• Let the airline staff know you may need support. You can request help ahead of time, and if something comes up during the flight, it’s okay to quietly let a flight attendant know, so that they can assist you if needed.
• Build in rest days. Don’t force yourself into a hectic schedule. Try a “zero day” after a busy one to give your body time to recover and avoid a flare.
• Skip the rush. Tight connections and early flights can spike stress. Get to the airport early and give yourself a big cushion when planning the next steps of your trip.

Keep Essentials Close

Don’t check your medications or essentials. Your carry-on luggage should work like a small pericarditis care kit and include:

• A pillbox with morning, noon, and night compartments to keep you on track with your daily medication regimen
• A list of medications you take, and a doctor’s note (if you have one) that explains your condition and treatment needs
• A reusable water bottle to help you stay hydrated before, during, and after your flight
• Small, heart-healthy snacks to help you avoid processed options at the airport
• Noise-canceling headphones or an eye mask to manage the stress of a loud cabin
• Hand sanitizer and a face mask in case there are sick people seated near you

Mind Your Medication

Staying consistent with your medication regimen is one of the best ways to avoid a flare. Shifting time zones can complicate that process, but you have options. Rambhatla recommends the following strategies:

• If you’re on a twice-daily regimen, keep the gap consistent. Rambhatla says that even while in transit, you should aim for 10 to 12 hours between doses.
• For once-daily medications, you have more flexibility to align with your destination. You can gradually shift the timing within a 20- to 24-hour window, he says.
• To avoid confusion during the first 24 hours of a trip, wait until your body begins to sync with the local time. “Don’t take medicine as [scheduled per the old time zone] until you adjust to the jet lag and the recalibration,” says Rambhatla.
• Always carry more medication than you think you need. “You should have enough with some reserve in case you lose a pill or run out,” he says.

Safeguard Your Sleep

• Regulate your natural sleep rhythms. Doing certain things too late can disrupt the natural time frames of the brain, says Rambhatla. To avoid feeling wired, limit your caffeine consumption and late-night stressors, so that your brain can calm down in the evening hours. Winding down by journaling or doing a quick meditation can also help reset your brain for better quality sleep.
• Create a sense of home. To combat the stress of a new environment, bring familiar items from home that help your brain recalibrate. For instance, a favorite pillow or blanket, beloved book, or white noise app can make a hotel room feel safer and help you settle down more easily before bed.
• Address underlying issues. If you have sleep apnea or a history of snoring, make sure to pack your medications or devices. These conditions make it harder for the body to recover, increasing the physical tax on your heart.

Fuel Your Body

What you eat affects your inflammatory markers, says Rambhatla. You can see a direct cause-and-effect relationship between a heavy meal, such as a big steak dinner with wine, and a blood glucose spike that triggers a flare-up.

• Go for salads, but skip heavy dressings, which are high in processed calories that can trigger inflammation. Instead, try olive oil and vinegar, or a squeeze of lemon juice.
• Skip anything on the menu that’s fried in inflammatory breading and oils. Instead, ask for grilled lean meat, chicken, or fish.
• Trade white bread and pasta for whole-grain varieties to prevent spikes in blood sugar and insulin that can stoke inflammation.

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  Brown rice, sweet potatoes, and quinoa are helpful alternatives as well.
• Avoid alcohol, which can exacerbate inflammation and interfere with sleep. Ask for a glass of sparkling water with a wedge of lemon or lime instead.

Plan for Emergencies

A little planning can make a big difference if you experience a pericarditis flare-up while away from home. The goal is to know what you’ll do before you need to do it.

• Map out your care ahead of time. Before you leave, look up where you can get into a clinic for bloodwork or a checkup. Rambhatla says it’s not always easy to find the right care quickly in a new place, so having access to a healthcare provider ahead of time should be part of your travel plans.
• Know the warning signs. If you feel feverish, short of breath, or have chest pain, don’t wait it out. Skip urgent care and go straight to a hospital, says Rambhatla. Being cleared to travel depends on staying symptom-free, so any sudden change needs medical attention right away.
• Keep your records handy. Travel with both paper and digital copies of your most recent lab results and treatment plan. This information helps a new doctor quickly assess your flare-up and determine the best course of treatment.