Suffering from acute or chronic diseases
If you have a stable chronic disease (e.g. diabetes), which is well controlled on medication, you do not need medical clearance. You should carry your medications in your hand luggage adhering to the guidelines stipulated under "Travelling with Medicines".

Peanut allergies
Malaysia Airlines cannot guarantee a peanut free environment in our aircraft cabin or in our airport lounges.

Travelling with own medical equipment
Medical clearance is required for the use of most medical equipment onboard to confirm that you are fit to fly and to ensure that the medical equipment does not interrupt the electromagnetic frequencies of the aircraft. All personal medical equipment should have sufficient battery power to last one and a half times the journey length (150% travel time). Only dry cell batteries are permitted onboard for safety reasons.

Travelling with medicines
You are advised to carry your medication in your hand luggage, in case you need it. You should also carry a copy of the prescription or a supporting written statement from your doctor in case the medication is lost, additional supplies are needed or security or custom checks require proof that it is for personal use.

Travelling while pregnant
If you are travelling during pregnancy, you will require a letter from your doctor stating duration of pregnancy and any risk factors. The following are cases not recommended for women to travel:

• After 32nd week of pregnancy for those with multiple pregnancies (e.g. twins).


• After 35th week of pregnancy for international flights.


• After 36th week of pregnancy for domestic sectors.


• Until 7 days after delivery.

Passengers with disability or passengers with a chronic stable disease
Passengers with disability kindly forward all written enquiries to the following address:

Medical Services Manager (Aviation)
MAS Medical Centre
Malaysia Airlines Bhd
Ground Floor Admin Building 3
47200 L.T.S.A.S.
Subang Airport
Selangor Darul Ehsan,
Malaysia
Fax : +603-7846 2626

If you need mobility assistance (e.g. wheelchair, buggy) at the airport, please contact the Hospitality Desk at the airport, so that transport from terminal to the aircraft can be arranged.

Immobility and circulatory problems (DVT)
Prolonged immobility, especially when seated, can lead to pooling of blood in the legs, which in turn may cause swelling, stiffness and discomfort. It is known that immobility is one of the factors that may lead to the development of a blood clot in a deep vein, so-called "deep vein thrombosis" or DVT. As a precaution, moving around the cabin or simple exercises during long flights will help to reduce any period of prolonged immobility. Please refer to Malaysia Airlines Inflight Magazine - "Going Places", for simple exercises to follow especially during long haul flights. To reduce the risk of DVT, we recommend the following measures for all our passengers:

• Avoid high consumption of caffeine and alcoholic beverages as these cause dehydration.


• Increase consumption of other fluids, especially water or fruit juices to improve body hydration. In this respect, our cabin staffs have been advised to serve water and fruit juices more frequently to passengers.


• Do simple regular in-flight workouts. One such exercise is to raise the buttocks and thighs off the seats while seated and at the same time squeezing the toes and contracting the calf muscles. Another exercise is to straighten and bend both legs at the knee while seated. Both these exercises will improve blood circulation.


• Wear loose-fitting comfortable clothing.

If you require additional information on Deep Vein Thrombosis (Travellers Thrombosis), kindly refer to the link given below:

• World Health Organization Publication: International Travel and Health; Chapter 2 http://www.who.int/ith/ITH2009Chapter2.pdf

Pacemaker
It is safe to fly with a pacemaker provided that your cardiac condition is stable. However some issues that may be of concern are during the security screening procedures at the airport. Passing through an airport metal detector won't interfere with your pacemaker, although the metal in it may sound the alarm.

Avoid lingering near or leaning against a metal-detection system. If security personnel insist on using a hand-held metal detector, ask them not to hold the device near your pacemaker any longer than necessary. To avoid potential problems, carry an ID card stating that you have a pacemaker. In addition to that general advice, you should check with your own doctor and read the instructions from the manufacturer of your own model of pacemaker to find out whether the pacemaker you have is more sensitive to the metal detection equipment.

Smokers
Smoking is not permitted onboard Malaysia Airlines. Passengers who smoke heavily and regularly may experience stress and discomfort, particularly during long flights. Heavy smokers may benefit from medical advice before travelling. Nicotine replacement patches or chewing gum may be helpful and the use of a mild tranquilliser can be considered.

Oxygen
Should there be a need for supplemental oxygen during your travel as advised by your doctor, you are required to make the necessary booking at least 48 to 72 hours before your intended date of travel. At Malaysia Airlines we provide two kinds of oxygen flow onboard, that is 2 litres/minute and 7 litres/minute. Kindly download the MEDIF form and ask your physician to fill it up and submit it to your nearest Malaysia Airlines Ticketing Office or travel agent. Malaysia Airlines charges for oxygen supplied on international flights.

Stress, fatigue and jet lag
Jet lag refers to the disruption of sleep patterns and other circadian rhythms, which result from abrupt changes in time zones. Jet lag may lead to insomnia, indigestion, reduced physical and mental performance and general malaise. The adverse effects of jet lag can be reduced by the use of effective measures. Some of these measures include:

• Be well rested before departure and rest as much as possible during the flight. Ensure that you have as much sleep as possible for every 24 hour cycle when travelling, as you would at home and use opportunities to take short naps regularly. In the case of short trips, it may not always be appropriate to adjust to local time – if in doubt, seek specialist advice.


• Wear loose comfortable clothing.


• Drink plenty of water and/or juices before and throughout the flight.


• Eat light meals. Limit your consumption of tea, coffee and alcohol both before and during the flight.


• Upon arrival, some may find it beneficial to use short-acting sleeping pills to facilitate the adjustment of sleep patterns. However, use these only under medical supervision and ensure that they have been tried and tested at home before you use them on your trip.


• Stay out in the natural daylight or in brightly lit areas to help adjust more quickly to the time zone of the destination.
  

Travellers who take medication on a strict schedule (e.g. insulin, contraceptive pills) should seek medical advice.

Divers
Divers should not fly soon after diving because of the risk that the reduced cabin pressure may lead to decompression sickness (the bends). It is recommended that they do not fly until at least 12 hours after their last dive and this period should be extended to 24 hours after multiple dives or after diving that requires decompression stops during ascent to the surface.