How to stay safe on the go

Doug Fugate loves to travel. But walking in places can require a lot of walking and prolonged sitting – in cars, trains or planes. And this can be difficult because Fugate has peripheral artery disease (PAD), in which narrowed arteries prevent blood from flowing easily to his legs and arms.

Fugate, 58, who lives in Austin, Texas, had two femoral-popliteal bypasses to open blocked arteries in his legs. He wants to keep these bypasses open. When traveling, Fugate takes care to move often, even when on a plane. “Walking is often the best cure for PAD,” he says.

Getting to know

Many people with PAD can travel safely, says Curtis Kim, MD, director of the vascular lab at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore. But if PAD makes walking painful, smart products can make your journey smoother.

Know your limits. For example, if you are heading to the airport or train station, if you think you may need it, ask in advance if there are wheelchairs or other assistance. After his surgery to open the blood flow to his legs, Fugate’s leg pain was minimal enough to handle airports without a wheelchair.

Still, “sometimes running from terminal to terminal puts a lot of strain on my right leg,” he says. I’m fine if I don’t carry anything, but I usually have my laptop bag and hand luggage, so the extra weight puts pressure on my PAD leg. ” If so, Fugate stops and shakes his leg for about 15 seconds, then resumes when he feels better.

A few years ago, Fugate created a Facebook group, the PAD Support Group (PAD / PVD), which already has more than 2,400 members. With so many people in the group, this has become an invaluable resource for tips on living with PAD, including travel tips.

It can help you take extra walks before you get stuck in the seat on the plane or train. Fugate tries to arrive earlier than he needs to, so he has time to walk slowly and rest on the way.

When booking a hotel, find out if there is a lift or ask for a lower floor. You can also request a room with accessibility features, Fugate says.

On the plane

When Fugate flies, he tries to move his legs often. This is not always easy, given the cabin room in airplanes, but even a simple movement, such as taking off your shoes and putting your feet on them, can help. He also goes for walks on the trail every about 30 minutes to maintain his blood.

Steve Hamburger, a half-retired marketer in Westlake Village, California, agrees that legroom can be a problem. If you can afford it, “try to upgrade to more legroom when you’re flying,” he says.

Like Fugate, Hamburger gets up and walks the aisles in an attempt to prevent the formation of dangerous blood clots. He also tries to stay hydrated and avoids alcohol in the air.

In the car

Because Fugate’s PAD affects his right foot, which he uses to drive, traveling by car can be a challenge. “My leg tends to fall asleep after a few hours of driving,” he says. To prevent this, he stops every hour to get out, walk and stretch. It also helps reduce swelling in the lower legs and feet and reduces the risk of a blood clot in the veins called deep vein thrombosis.

If he is a passenger on a long journey, he is able to move his legs and find a position that is comfortable for him.

Keep walking

Doctors recommend a regular walking program for people with PAD: with time and practice, the more you walk, the less it hurts. If you are planning a trip, make sure you start or continue a good walking routine at home so that the pain does not interfere with your trip.

Fugate says walking is a key ingredient for safe travel. “To help combat the negative side effects of PAD, I take 10,000 or more steps a day and stay hydrated. “When I know I’m going to travel, I make sure I have a few bottles of water in my bag,” he said.

Fugate also plans activities that include walking. For example, he may explore a footpath that also has benches along the way to sit and rest.

The hamburger also swears by walking. “I don’t have big problems when I travel with PAD because I try to maintain my walking routine every day,” he says.

For holidays, Hamburger chooses trips to the beach or the mountains, where there are hiking or walking trails. He does not allow bad weather to interfere. “If that means walking down the halls of a hotel when it’s raining outside, I do it.”