As the holidays approach, I’m reminded of the patients I’ve worked with who have flared or developed complications after traveling, particularly after flying long-distances or visiting high-altitude destinations.
During flights, hypoxia—a reduction in oxygen supply to body tissues—can lead to intestinal inflammation and increase risk of vascular complications, potentially leading to:
- Inflammation and Flares: Many IBD patients report flaring after air travel.
- Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVTs): People with IBD are 3x more likely to develop a blood clot compared to the healthy population.
- Ischemic Colitis: Reduced blood flow to the colon.
Patients with elevated fecal calprotectin, comorbidities, or a history of emergency visits are more vulnerable, especially on flights over 8 hours.
None of this is meant to discourage patients from traveling—our goal is to help them prepare for a successful journey and enjoy their vacation to the fullest. 🏝️
How RDNs Can Help:
- Hydration is key! Recommend drinking at least 8 oz of water per hour on flights and carrying a refillable bottle. (If there’s one thing you takeaway from this week’s newsletter, it’s this!)
- Move often: Suggest booking an aisle seat to make it easier to move around the cabin. While seated, encourage them to rotate their ankles.
- Avoid alcohol before and during the flight. Alcohol increases overall risk of complications.
- Avoid smoking: Smoking worsens inflammation and increases DVT risk.
- Consider compression stockings: Encourage patients to consult their doctor.
Finally, remind your patients to discuss upcoming travel with their gastroenterologist. Doctors can provide additional tips, prescribe medications if needed, and help minimize risks effectively.
Resources for Traveling with IBD
Patient-Friendly Tools:
- IBD Passport: Evidence-based travel advice for individuals with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.
- Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation: Traveling with IBD
Journal Articles:
- Clinical factors to predict flare-up in patients with inflammatory bowel disease during international air travel: A prospective study (Park J, et al., 2022)
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Travelers (Rogler G, 2018)
- High altitude journeys and flights are associated with an increased risk of flares in inflammatory bowel disease patients (Vavricka S, et al., 2014)
