The holidays are coming soon. Taking an airplane or traveling to higher destination to visit family and friends is possible while being on oxygen. It’s important to plan ahead for patients to undergoing a High Altitude Stimulation Test (HAST). Desert Pulmonary Rehab and Diagnostics provides this in-clinic test to determine how much supplemental oxygen is needed to travel safe and breathe normal at a higher altitude.
The FAA regulates that airplanes maintain a cabin pressure of between 8,000 and 10,000 feet above sea level. This means the oxygen has dropped by 6% compared to sea level. The oxygen we breathe at sea level contains 21% oxygen, but when flying or at elevation of 8,000 feet, the air is now about 15% to 16% oxygen. Patients who are considering flying or traveling to a higher elevation but have cardiopulmonary conditions and are oxygen dependent need to have a HAST done so they don’t develop hypoxemia while traveling.
Safely tested at Desert Pulmonary Rehab and Diagnostics, the patient breathes a mixture of different gases to stimulate breathing 15-16% oxygen concentrations while their blood oxygen saturation is continuously monitored as well as their vital signs. A pulse oximeter will be placed on their finger to monitor for at rest for 20 minutes followed with ambulation for a 6-minute walk test. If the patient’s oxygen saturation level dropped below 89% at rest and with ambulation, supplement oxygen will be administered with 1 liter of oxygen to start and will titrate up on the oxygen as necessary until oxygen saturation >90% has been achieved. Basically, the process will start all over again with supplemental oxygen being added to the procedure. A report is given so the patient’s physician can go over the results of the test and help the physician to make recommendations for the patient’s safe travels. Desert Pulmonary Rehab and Diagnostics is the only clinic in Clark County that provides the HAST test covered by most insurance policies.
Talking with patients on the best portable oxygen devices to take with them is important as well as making sure before traveling that they find out what the airline’s policies are for using oxygen in flight. Advise patients that when they book flights or use other means of travel that they need to work with the travel agent or selected carrier to provide required information. Our goal is to help patients struggling to breathe embrace HOPE by leading them down the pathway to breathing a better life. Traveling to visit family, friends, or simply taking a vacation fulfills their DREAMS of enjoying life to the fullest again. Visit the website to learn more.
