Medical Flashcards
Three class of medical certificate
14CFR part 61
3rd class for recreational for 5y or 2y if over 40
2nd class for commercial for 1y
1st class for airline for 1y or 6mo if over 40
Hypoxia
Lack of oxygen, particularly the brain
4 different causes: hypoxic, hypemic, stagnant, histotoxic
Hypoxic hypoxia
Insufficient oxygen, Eg blocked airway, reduction of partial pressure at high altitude
Dangers of transporting dry ice
Hypemic hypoxia
Not enough in the blood
Cause: anemia or CO poisoning or blood donation
Stagnant hypoxia
Oxygen rich blood not reaching the tissues due to shock, constricted artery, or excessive Gs
Histotoxic hypoxia
Tissue can’t use oxygen due to alcohol, drugs
Drinking one ounce of alcohol = additional 2000ft of physiological altitude
Symptoms of hypoxia
Cyanosis, headache, decreased response to stimuli, increased reaction time, impaired judgement, euphoria, visual impairment, drowsiness, dizzy, tingling, numbness
Treatment of hypoxia
Flying lower altitudes
Use supplemental oxygen
Above 10000ft symptoms increase
Hyper ventilation
Excessive rate and death of respiration
Loss of carbon dioxide in the blood
Can lead to unconsciousness
Unexpected stressful situation, high altitude flying
Hyper ventilation symptoms
Similar to hypoxia
Visual impairment
Unconsciousness
Dizzy
Tingling
Hot/cold
Muscle spasms
=> breathing slowly, talking out loud, breath into bag
Middle ear and sinus issues
Due to air pressure changes during climbs and descents, equalize via Eustachian tubes, problem when clogged (cold, ear infection, sore throat)
During descent lower pressure inside, need to shut mouth, nostrils and blow gently
Same with sinuses, if sinus block reduce descent rate, meds may impair pilot
Spatial orientation body systems
Vestibular
Somatosensory
Visual
Vestibular system
Inner ear to sense movement and orientation with three semicircular canals filled with fluid and fine hair, motion transmitted via nerves to brain
Somatosensory system
Can’t distinguish between gravity and g forces
Vestibular illisions
The Leans - can’t detect rotational acceleration of 2 degrees per sec or less, leveling may feel like over correction
Coriolis - long turn ear fluids move at same speed as canal, head movement can create illusion of aircraft maneuver
Graveyard spiral - after long turn, level, illusion to turn other way, compensating and losing altitude, attempt to climb, tighten spiral
Somatogravic - rapid acceleration, feeling of nose-up attitude, pushing nose-low, rapid deceleration opposite effect
Inversion - abrupt climb-to-level, illusion of tumbling backwards, may push nose low
Elevator - updraft illusion of climb, may push nose low, abrupt downdraft opposite effect
