'Is it okay for me to ... ?' Assessment of recreational activity risk in patients with chronic lung conditions.

Abstract

Recreational activities, including travel, can be associated with risks to health. Assessing and advising on these risks can be an important part of travel planning for a person with a chronic lung condition when they ask, 'Is it okay for me to ...?'This article discusses the respiratory considerations important in the assessment of, and advice for, a proposed activity in a person with a chronic lung condition.Patients with chronic lung disease can safely engage in a range of recreational, sporting and other activities. However, there are a number of general factors that should be taken into account, including access to, and the standard of, medical care available and the travel destination and medication availability. Guidelines based on limited evidence and expert opinion are available for some activities, but not all. Simple precautions and a common sense approach guided by knowledge of the particular risks in each setting should ensure a satisfactory outcome for the patient who asks, 'Is it okay for me to ... ?'