Our Top Tips for Travelling with Heart Arrhythmia

Planning a holiday when you have a heart condition like heart arrhythmia may feel daunting, but with the right preparation, there’s no reason you can’t enjoy your trip safely and stress-free. Whether it’s exploring a new city, relaxing on a beach, or visiting loved ones abroad, travelling with a heart condition simply requires a bit of extra planning.

Can You Fly with Heart Arrhythmia?

Yes, in most cases, people with heart arrhythmia can fly safely. Heart arrhythmia is a condition that affects the rhythm or rate of your heartbeat, and its severity varies from person to person. Before you book your trip, it’s important to speak with your GP to ensure you’re fit to travel and to get any relevant medical advice.

Can I Go on a Cruise with Heart Arrhythmia?

Cruises can be a relaxing and enjoyable way to travel, and many people with heart arrhythmia take cruise holidays without any problems. However, it’s important to choose your itinerary wisely. Some cruises visit remote destinations where access to advanced medical care may be limited.

Our Top Tips Before You Travel

1. Choosing a Destination

When planning a trip, consider how the climate and location might impact your heart:

• Avoid extreme temperatures. Hot and cold weather can place added strain on your heart.
• In colder climates, wear warm layers and keep your hands and feet covered
• In hotter climates, opt for light, breathable clothing, a sunhat, and sunglasses
• Be cautious at high altitudes (above 2,000 metres), where oxygen levels are lower. These conditions can increase breathlessness or trigger angina.

• Cruises can be a great option. They offer a slower pace and consistent environment, which can be ideal if you’re managing a heart condition. However:
• Speak with your GP before booking to ensure you’re fit to travel
• Choose itineraries with regular access to ports and medical facilities—particularly if you're travelling to more remote areas
• Confirm what medical support is available onboard—larger ships often have fully equipped medical centres
• Make sure your travel insurance includes cruise cover as well as emergency evacuation, just in case

Whether you’re planning a short city break, a beach holiday, or a relaxing cruise, the key is to match the trip to your health needs and comfort level.

2. Think About Your Activities

It’s important to be realistic about your physical capabilities:

• Consider planning gentle activities. If walking or hiking is on the agenda, choose routes that suit your fitness level and avoid steep or challenging terrain.
• You may also want to avoid spa facilities like saunas, steam rooms, and hot tubs. The sudden changes in temperature can place unnecessary strain on your heart.

3. Research the Medical Facilities in the Area

Choose accommodation that’s within a reasonable distance of medical facilities. If you’re staying somewhere remote, make sure you know the quickest route to help if needed. Save the contact details of a nearby clinic or doctor in your phone or jot them down in a travel notebook.

4. Preparing for a Flight

• Try to choose an aisle seat so you can move around easily and make bathroom trips more comfortably.
• Let the airline know about your condition in advance. They may be able to provide supplementary oxygen if needed, as cabin oxygen levels are lower than on the ground

5. Arrange the Right Travel Insurance

Able2Travel offers travel insurance for heart conditions that can help cover:

• Emergency medical treatment
• Medical repatriation
• Trip cancellation costs
• Replacement for prescribed medication
• Be sure to disclose your condition fully when taking out your policy—this ensures you’re properly covered and avoids invalidating your insurance.

Our Top Tips During Your Trip

1. On A Plane

Long flights can be tiring, so be proactive about your health:

• Stay hydrated with water and avoid alcohol, sugary drinks, and caffeine.
• On longer flights, walk around every couple of hours or do simple exercises like pumping your calves and circling your ankles.
• If you start to feel unwell—such as experiencing a racing or fluttering heartbeat, shortness of breath, chest pain, or dizziness—inform a flight attendant immediately.

2. Packing Your Heart Arrhythmia Medication

• Carry medication in its original packaging with a copy of your prescription.
• If you’re crossing time zones, take your medication as normal on the day of travel and then adjust as advised by your GP or pharmacist.

3. Wear a Medical ID

Medical ID bracelets or digital smartphone IDs can provide lifesaving information in an emergency. If you have a heart arrhythmia, your ID should include:

• Details of your condition
• Any devices like a pacemaker or ICD
• A list of medications and any allergies
• Emergency contact information for a close family member

Travel with Confidence with Able2Travel Heart Condition Travel Insurance

At Able2Travel, we believe travel should be about making memories—not worrying about your medical cover. With over 20 years of experience, we specialise in travel insurance for heart conditions, including heart arrhythmia. Our policies are tailored to support travellers with pre-existing medical conditions, so you can explore the world with confidence.

Key features of our cover include:

• No age limit on Single Trip policies*
• Cover for thousands of pre-existing conditions
• Emergency Medical Expenses – up to £10 million
• Trip Cancellation Protection – up to £5,000
• Travel Delay & Missed Departure – up to £1,000

And much more…

*Anywhere in the world excluding, USA, Canada, Mexico & The Caribbean

For the love of travel, choose Able2Travel.

Wherever your travels take you, choose Able2Travel for a worry-free experience. Get a quote today and travel with confidence.

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This article is for information and entertainment purposes only. It does not constitute advice in any way. The information provided here is correct at the time of writing however please check the latest policy wording for the latest terms, conditions, and exclusions.