REFLECTOR: Flying High

[Jorge Bujanda]

This is why I consider this topic to be so important.  The headache, 
just like any of the other hypoxia symptoms or signs, is not reliable at 
all.  You may be seriously impaired and experience no headache.  Others 
may experience it at the initial stages.  Different individuals will be 
affected in very different ways.  This only reinforces the fact that 
many variables come to play and the manifestation of the effects of 
"acute" hypoxia can vary greatly amongst persons.  In addition, this are 
most likely to "change" over time in the same individual.  

Based on some of the comments, I can see that most of those who seem to 
downplay the issue of hypoxia, seem to base their comments and 
conclusions on the conditions they and others have been able to tolerate 
in the past.  That would probably be appropriate, regardles of how high 
they live, if everything always went as planned and our physical 
condition, physiology, and aging (deteriorating) bodies would not 
change.  Of course those living at higher elevations will tolerate 
hypoxia better.  This does not alter the fact that that we do change 
over time and with it, our capacity to tolerate hypoxia. 

In my humble opinion, those who are basing their conclusions purely on 
their previous tolerance and experience will get slapped, sooner or 
later.  I hope that when it happens, they get the chance to talk about 
it and learn from it.  I commend those who fly with oxygen, even if they 
live on top of Mount Saint Helen, because they know they WILL eventually 
experience and have prepared for an "unplanned landing on a smoky runway 
when they least expect it."

As always, the information is there for the taking of those who want it. 
I learned from Ronnie's recommended article that onboard oxygen does not 
have to be expensive or "painful" just to be on the safe side. 

My intention was to create awareness and I am pleased to see the 
results.  There are many research sources you can tap into, if you still 
have doubts or questions.  Just fly safely so you can return to those 
who await you, and get the chance to fly again tomorrow (both at low or 
high altitude).

Regards,
Jorge



 

Jim Sower wrote:

> To what extent might one expect the "serious" symptoms and impairments 
> in the /absence/ of headache?  Might headache be regarded as a 
> reliable warning of the onset of other impairment?
>
> Jorge Bujanda wrote:
>
>> Gentlemen,
>>
>> The headache is not the problem. What is important is what it means. 
>> If you get a headache, it is likely that you have gone too high. The 
>> headache is a sign of an important and fairly acute decrease of 
>> oxygen delivery to the brain due to sudden decrease in barometric 
>> (oxygen) pressure, due in turn to high altitude.
>>
>> >From a neurological perspective, the onset of headache due to 
>> hypoxia is proven to be accompanied by subtle and unnoticed, but 
>> increasing judgment impairment, coordination loss, decreased reaction 
>> time, visual impairment, drowsiness, excitement, carefree feeling, 
>> overestimation of self-capabilities and exaggerated self-confidence 
>> (very dangerous in the cockpit), disorientation and loss of time 
>> sense. As you can see, although the most uncomfortable, the headache 
>> is the least dangerous of all the events described. It has been 
>> proven that there is increasing “appreciable” neurological handicap 
>> between 7000 and 12000 feet and “considerable” neurological handicap 
>> between 12000 and 15000 feet in physically “normal” individuals.
>>
>> >From a cardiovascular perspective, there is an obvious decrease in 
>> the oxygenation of the heart and any circulatory and cardiac problem 
>> (known or unknown) will be aggravated by such decreased delivery of 
>> oxygen to the heart. Any illness or factor affecting proper tissue 
>> oxygenation such as anemia, hypertension, circulatory problems, heart 
>> disease, emphysema (long-time smokers), asthma, and even simple 
>> things such as been in the process of getting over upper respiratory 
>> allergies or infections may further worsen oxygen delivery to the 
>> heart and brain. This means that, under these circumstances, you 
>> might not tolerate altitudes that you might have tolerated in the 
>> past under “normal” conditions.
>>
>> More importantly, for reasons I will not detail here, any stressful 
>> situation (i.e., encountering bad, or worse than expected weather and 
>> climbing higher to avoid it) causes rapid and shallow breathing, as 
>> well as increased tissue oxygen consumption which will further 
>> decrease oxygen delivery to the heart and brain and may become the 
>> last factor to precipitate catastrophe.
>>
>> Pay attention... borderline (high) flying does not come without risk. 
>> The effects of altitude are insidious and are not something to be 
>> taken lightly. A simple headache may be just a warning sign, but 
>> also, a life-saving sign pointing to a bigger underlying problem.
>>
>> Draw your own conclusions based on what your current physical 
>> condition might be (known or unknown) and the physiological facts 
>> stated above.
>>
>> I hope this helps you increase safety awareness and I highly 
>> recommend that you remind yourselves of all this as you have to take 
>> those two aspirins after landing.
>>
>> Regards,
>> Jorge Bujanda
>> XL FG
>> Palmdale, CA
>>
>> "Make your best case... not the best case."
>> "Spare the noise... convince through silence."
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> To change your email address, visit 
>> http://www.tvbf.org/mailman/listinfo/reflector
>>
>> Visit the gallery!  www.tvbf.org/gallery
>> user:pw = tvbf:jamaicangoose
>> Check new archives: www.tvbf.org/pipermail
>> Check old archives: http://www.tvbf.org/archives/velocity/maillist.html
>>
>>
> _______________________________________________
> To change your email address, visit 
> http://www.tvbf.org/mailman/listinfo/reflector
>
> Visit the gallery!  www.tvbf.org/gallery
> user:pw = tvbf:jamaicangoose
> Check new archives: www.tvbf.org/pipermail
> Check old archives: http://www.tvbf.org/archives/velocity/maillist.html
>
>