Alkalosis and Flying Safety
Acute respiratory alkalosis occurs rapidly. Panic, in a crisis precipitated in flying, causes a rapid increase in your breathing rate. This is called hyperventilation.
Causes that relate to flying include:
- Anxiety, hysteria and stress from flying or a crisis event in flying.
- Aspirin, caffeine and coffee abuse.
- High altitude flying where the decreased atmospheric pressure of oxygen stimulates breathing rate.
- Lung disease where a hypoxic drive controls breathing more than carbon dioxide levels that normally control breathing.
- Flying with a fever that stimulates the breathing center in the brain stem.
- State of pregnancy.
- Kidney disease that precipitates neural problems from brain swelling.
Sometimes just a "Don't Panic" cup produces "comic relief" just at the right moment!
Symptoms of Alkalosis
Decreased blood carbon dioxide causes symptoms of respiratory alkalosis. You may experience a tingling or numbness in your skin. The alkalosis may disrupt the electrolytic balance of calcium ions which may cause your skeletal muscles to remain extremely tense, for a brief time ( tetanus ) and cause fainting. If the alkalosis is caused by an underlying chronic condition pain and disorientation may occur.
The physiology of alkalosis is complex. The acute (short term) respiratory alkalosis has many causes. You must understand some habits, even enjoying several cups of coffee, may trigger alkalosis.
Distraction from your pilot in command duties is not in your best interests. Knowledge of the possible causes is safety for you and your passengers.
