Staying Heart Healthy on The Road
February is all about staying heart healthy especially on the road. However, your next great RV adventure is sure to take you away from your Primary Doctors and in some cases remove you from emergency care all together. So how do you stay heart healthy on the road? Before you leave town use the below tips to get prepared for your big trip.
- Check in with your Cardiologist and/or Primary Doctor before you leave.
- Let your doctor know you will be out of town so it can be documented. If an out of town doctor calls the Primary Dr’s office staff can assist because they are up to date.
- Create a healthcare plan (with your Dr.) that covers any follow up care and potential red flags that would indicate the need for medical attention on the road.
- Have accurate & up-to-date medical records in print or on a portal.
- Renew your prescriptions
- Use a prescription provider that is available nationwide to ease the process of medicine access.
- Have an updated list of medications that includes the strength, times per day, Dr. contact name and number, allergies and the name of your heart or other health conditions. This can be presented quickly to a new medical professional.
- If you are going to a foreign country be sure it is written in the native language as well as English.
- Contact your local American Heart Association for CPR & First Aid training
- Know the new compression-only CPR.
- Have a plan for emergency situations that you and your travel partner agree on before you leave town.
- Know your warning signs
- TAKE ACTION – if you are feeling warning signs don’t be shy – get help.
- Heart attack warning signs show up differently in men and women.
- Know the various heart attack (and stroke) warning signs.
- Know the environment
- High altitude, drastic changes in barometric pressure, or extreme heat and/or humidity can all be heart stressors.
- Review weather, altitude and other environmental stressors before you visit.
- Hydration, Nutrition, Exercise and Rest
- Review electrolyte options with your doctor to stay hydrated. There are several travel size packs that can be poured into your water bottle while traveling.
- Be aware of increased sodium and fats in your foods while dining in new places.
- Exercise and rest make for a well-rounded adventure.
Mentor Minute
KYD Insider Robert says, “Pay attention to your health on the road!”
His recent trip to Florida was delayed due to a health scare. He was having trouble staying warm and his wife said he was looking a bit gray. Prompted by his wife, Robert made an appointment to see a cardiac doctor because of the way he was feeling. They found a blockage to his main artery and immediately had to put in a stent.
Robert encourages us to stay tuned in to our warning signs and listen to family members that are trying to help. His doctors said he wouldn’t have made his way home if he hadn’t taken the action he did!
When traveling out of country we have found it advantageous to purchase travel insurance from Medic Alert (medicalert.org). They will help you find someone to translate if you do not have a English speaking doctor, etc. Lots of benefits for their inexpensive coverage in our opinion.
We always travel with a printed medical history list, a list of meds and names/addresses of our health care professionals. The same lists are also in our phones and we email them to ourselves as well just in case phones or suitcases are lost! We even carry flash drives with the same information.
Claudia,
I am an RN, and I have worked on cruise ships, as an RN. Your advice is fantastic! I cannot tell you how many times, while on the ships, I would see evidence of how important travel insurance can be for someone traveling outside of their country. It is also advantageous to know how your regular insurance works, and numbers to call, in the event of needing health care internationally.
Also, I would add these items to your list:
* Any allergies to medications you have
* Dosing information on each medication you take
* Any surgeries you have had
* Emergency contact person, and how to contact them – If you list the person you are traveling
with, then also list a second person, in the event your and your travel partner are incapacitated.
I encourage travel, and seeing as much of our amazing world as possible. But prior to going, just have these few things in order, then go have a blast!!
Thanks Rene’ Great to have a true professional’s opinion. Safe travels! Tricia
Just a thought…..Since the majority of us carry our phones with us continually it might be wise to set up your Medical ID under the Health APP (on iPhones) Should you ever find yourself in a medical emergency, your Medical ID can be used to determine your identity and access your medical history. Medical responders can open it from your lock screen by hitting Emergency, then Medical ID.
To set up your Medical ID, go to the tab in the Health app, then hit Edit. You can log your whole medical history from prescriptions to past and present chronic issues. Be sure “Show when locked” is enabled, so that medical responders can view your info.
Great idea! Tricia
I would only add “Act your age!” I only say that because in my head I’m still in my 20s. “Sure I can climb up that water fall” or “Pfffft, I used to dive off stuff higher than that all the time in competition!” (Both true stories) anyway, those are but just two of the lessons taught to me in the not so distant past. I’m not at all in 20s, or 30s, or even 40s. No, I’ll be 60 in October. Fortunately I want hurt by my own inability to “Act my age” but I did discover I’m not near as sure footed as I once was and things really ache more than ever before. I still struggle with problem but I am coming to grips with it. I figure I got maybe 20 -30 more years left if I don’t trash myself. Wish me luck.
Neil
“I’da taken better care of myself if I knew I’d live this long”
Having a chronic blood cancer (and having two TIA’s) I see Dr’s all the time. Having open and honest conversations is key and with your travel partner. We travel in spirts or short distances not staying on the road as long as we used to. Planning ahead, knowing where care is, hospitals, and ensuring not only you have your Ned’s but able to fill a script if needed. I not only wear a medical ID I keep my emergency medical ID up to date on my iPhone. Another sign to look out for is stroke. Use FAST, F-face: ask the person to smile. Does one side droop? A-arms; ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward? S-speech; ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange. T-time; if you observe any of these signs, call 9-1-1 immediately.
Happy safe travels.
Hi Trish,
First wanted to tell you how inspiring your videos have been and how much I enjoy and appreciate your family. They have helped bring me joy and something to look forward to. I feel like I’ve been vicariously living in your adventures while I was bed bound on the couch. I thank you for that.
the last year and a half I have been dealing with heart and automatic nervous system issue and go into svts when I’m standing on my feel and have passed out over 20 times Over this time.
I wasn’t aware you had a heart condition till this sunday’s episode where you purchased the defibrillator. And I guess it through me for such a loop.
I had to reach out to you.
I’m being treated at the Cleveland Clinic. With the new meds I am able to walk around now and just make sure I dont stand in one spot .
But guess what?! We started where we could and bought a pop up camper that was in our budget and booked 3 separate weeks at campsites in 3 states around our back yard. 1 being Mackinaw city because of those 2 videos!
Anyway after today’s video and being so touched by what you do. It gave me a lot of hope. And know you will be in my prayers.
Also I’m 37 years old with a husband ,and 2 little girls
that I want to grow up with memories of our fun and exciting trips.
丹恒は信頼できる存在だ。何かを抱えているのは知っているが…彼はもう立派な列車組の一員なんだ。俺と姫子は、誰にも彼を傷付けさせるつもりはない。
Thanks for the information provided! we will use this information into our GPT/Chat-GPT dataset
Hi Trish (and Marc) Long time listener, RVer and a big fan of KYD 😉
My daughter was diagnosed with a rare heart condition this summer after having a seizure in a pool. Luckily another 11-year old angel saved her life and plucked her out of the water before Bryn was airlifted to hospital where we quickly learned about her condition called Long QT Syndrome. After an implant and some life changes, she is thankfully doing well today. We have learned so much this year, bland are greatfull to our health carers at Wolfson Children’s Hospital. We would watch KYD together when she was recovering from surgery as it made her smile.
I was watching your Greenville, SC show this evening (yep, I’m way behind this season sorry!) and heard you mention that you too have a heart condition. It sounds like you manage it well on the road. Would you mind sharing what condition you have? My daughter also loves watching KYD with me and I know it would make her smile in a way, to know what you have.
Thanks. Chris and Bryn Jenkins. Jacksonville, FLA. and Merry Christmas!