Flying OK for heart patients.

FLYING is not as risky for heart patients as doctors once thought, say researchers.

Lower oxygen levels at high altitudes on commercial aircraft sparked fears that flying could interfere with circulation and endanger passengers with heart or blood vessel problems.

That led to a review of studies of those with heart disease, pacemakers and patients who had recently had procedures such as heart implants and angioplasty.

American heart expert Dr Stephen Possick said: 'The important take-home message is that for people with stable coronary disease, all the data points to air travel being safe.'

He said for those whose heart disease was under control and who had no post-surgery troubles or major bouts with chest pain or other troubling symptoms, the risk was low.

The researchers concluded that people should not travel if they have had a heart attack, an angioplasty or a heart stent implant in the preceding two weeks.

They also said those who had had a heart bypass in the previous three weeks should stay on the ground.

People should also not fly if they had unstable angina, an abnormal heart beat that is not well controlled by medication or heart failure that does not respond well to medication.

Dr Cossick said it was a good idea for many heart patients to wear compression stockings and walk around during long air trips to prevent deep vein thrombosis.

He said: 'Heart disease is so common, and there's no need to frighten people into thinking they can't travel.'