Hypoxia Symptoms
There are several types of hypoxia but each causes the brain to receive less oxygen than normal. This is hypoxia and, as you receive less oxygen, each of us that experience hypoxia don't realize the symptoms that warn us we are impaired.
There are several types of hypoxia but each causes the brain to receive less oxygen than normal. This is hypoxia and, as you receive less oxygen, each of us that experience hypoxia don't realize the symptoms that warn us we are impaired.
A general feeling that "all is well" and we think nothing is wrong because we feel so good. If the lack of available oxygen decreases more your arms and legs don't seem as responsive and coordinated flying starts to disappear.
Most folks may or may not share the following symptoms that reflect you are hypoxic.
- Cyanosis - (blue fingernails and lips)
- Headache
- You don't react well
- Your judgement is impaired
- Feeling of "all is well"
- Vision begins to deteriorate
- You become sleepy
- You become lightheaded
- You experience dizziness
- You have tingling sensations in your hands and feet
- Numbness
If the hypoxia worsens the field of vision narrows. (it is like looking through a tube - peripheral vision disappears). Your ability to interpret what the instruments show dissolves. You have a false sense of security and are deceived into thinking everything is normal.
The treatment for hypoxia, while flying, includes flying at lower altitudes or using supplemental oxygen.
All pilots are susceptible to hypoxia regardless of physical endurance or acclimatization. If you plan to fly at high altitudes you must use supplemental oxygen to avoid the symptoms of hypoxia.
The term "time of useful consciousness" describes the maximum time the pilot has to make rational life-saving decisions and carry them out at a given altitude without supplemental oxygen. As your altitude increases above 10,000 feet the symptoms of hypoxia increase rapidly. The time of useful consciousness rapidly decreases.
Since symptoms of hypoxia can be different for each individual, the ability to recognize hypoxia can be greatly improved by experiencing and witnessing the effects of it during an altitude chamber “flight.” (hyporbaric chamber)
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) provides this opportunity through aviation physiology training, which is conducted at the FAA CAMI and at many military facilities across the United States. For information about the FAA’s one-day physiological training course with altitude chamber and vertigo demonstrations, visit the FAA web site above.
