Travel remains one of life’s great joys — but once you reach your seventies, the body doesn’t respond the same way it did at fifty. What used to be an exciting adventure can quickly become a source of stress, medical risk, or unexpected expense if not carefully planned.

This isn’t meant to scare you. It’s meant to help you travel smart, understand the risks, and protect your health. Always talk to your doctor before planning a long journey.

Deep Vein Thrombosis (Blood Clots from Sitting Too Long)

Long hours in a plane or car — often six to twelve — slow down blood flow in the legs and can cause dehydration, increasing the risk of blood clots that may travel to the lungs.
Watch for: calf pain or heaviness, one-sided swelling, warmth in the leg.
Prevention: stay hydrated, walk or stretch every hour, wear compression stockings, book an aisle seat, and ask your doctor if you need preventive medication — especially if you take anticoagulants or have heart disease.

Heart and Lung Strain from Altitude or Extreme Climate

Cabin air pressure during flights is equivalent to being at 1,800–2,400 meters above sea level, meaning less oxygen with each breath. Hot, humid, or freezing destinations can also strain your heart and lungs.
Watch for: shortness of breath, chest tightness, dizziness, palpitations, or ankle swelling.
Prevention: pick destinations with moderate climates, limit flight times, use a pulse oximeter if you have heart or lung disease, and discuss your plans with your cardiologist or pulmonologist.

Higher Infection Risk with a Weaker Immune System

As we age, the immune system slows down, making infections easier to catch and harder to fight. Air conditioning, crowded airports, or unsafe water can all trigger respiratory or stomach illnesses.
Watch for: persistent fever, dehydration, worsening cough or diarrhea.
Prevention: keep vaccinations up to date (flu, COVID-19, pneumococcal), follow strict hygiene rules, drink bottled water, and stay somewhere clean and well-ventilated.

Medication Confusion Across Time Zones

Medications such as anticoagulants, insulin, or thyroid tablets rely on strict timing. Crossing time zones can easily lead to missed or doubled doses.
Risks: bleeding or clotting, blood sugar swings, or thyroid imbalance.
Prevention: make a written medication schedule with your doctor’s help, keep pills in your carry-on, use alarms, and carry prescriptions in English.

More Falls and Disorientation in New Places

Jet lag, strange hotel layouts, and uneven streets can triple your risk of falls. Fatigue and unfamiliar surroundings also reduce alertness.
Prevention: choose ground-floor rooms or use elevators, request grab bars in the bathroom, wear non-slip shoes, keep a clear path to the bathroom at night, and bring a cane if you normally use one.

Emergencies Abroad Are Expensive and Complicated

Foreign hospitals may not cover pre-existing conditions, and medical evacuations can cost a fortune.
Prevention: check that your insurance covers pre-existing issues and includes evacuation; register your trip with your embassy; and keep a medical summary in both your language and English.

So, Does This Mean You Shouldn’t Travel?

Not at all. It simply means traveling differently — smarter, slower, and safer.

• Choose closer destinations within three to four hours.
• Prefer road trips with frequent stops.
• Cruise travel can be an option if onboard medical support is available.
• Travel in shoulder seasons to avoid extreme heat, cold, or crowds.

Practical Steps Before You Go

• See your doctor 4–6 weeks before the trip to review your health, medications, and any necessary tests.
• Prepare a medical summary listing your diagnoses, medications, allergies, and emergency contacts.
• Stay hydrated and move often — drink water hourly and flex your ankles regularly.
• Pack smart: compression stockings (if prescribed), pulse oximeter, good shoes, and extra medication (5–7 days more than you need).
• Check your accommodation: elevators, grab bars, and safe lighting at night.
• Verify your insurance includes pre-existing conditions and emergency evacuation coverage.

Your golden years should be long, peaceful, and full of discovery. But travel at this stage of life works best when done with care and foresight. Sometimes the most rewarding journeys are the shorter ones — closer to home, easier on the body, and richer in comfort and joy.