Aeromedical aspects Flashcards
What is angina?
Reduced oxygen to the heart due to a build up of plaque, usually a consequence of coronary artery disease.
What are the symptoms of angina?
- Cramping chest pain
- Breathlessness
- Weakness
- Pale in colour
What is the definition of a heart attack?
When bloody supply to the heart stops due to a blockage (plaque cracks and a blood clot blo9cks the artery).
What are the symptoms of a heart attack?
- Constricting chest pain
- Ashen, cold, clammy skin
- Nausea and vomiting
- Weak rapid pulse
What is the definition of a cardiac arrest?
Severe disruption of complete stop of the heart, brought on by a heart attack.
What is meant by ventricular fibrillation?
When the hearts electrical pulse is disrupted
What is meant by asystole?
Flat line - When the hearts electrical pulses stop completely
What are the symptoms of a cardiac arrest?
- No breathing
- No pulse
- Collapses casualty with no response
What is the definition of a stroke?
Blockage or rupture of brain arteries, preventing blood flowing to the brain.
What are the possible effects of a stroke?
- Slow bounding pulse
- Confused mental state
- Loss of speech, bladder and breathing control
- Loud breathing
What is the definition of epilsepy?
Neurological disorder where brain activity becomes abnormal, causing different physical or mental responses.
What are the two types of epileptic fit?
Major and minor
What are the symptoms of an major epileptic fit?
Full body convulsion
+ Minor fit symptoms
What are the symptoms of a minor epileptic fit?
- Switching off or staring blankly
- Twitching or jerking
- Repetitive movements
- Chewing or making noises
What is the definition of diabetes?
When the body is unable to control its own sugar levels.
What is hyperglycaemia?
When the bodies blood sugar levels are higher than its insulin levels
This is a reversible state with no immediate effects
What is hypoglycaemia?
When the bodies insulin levels are higher than its blood sugar levels
This is a life-threatening state
What are the symptoms of the two diabetic states (6)?
- Weakeness, fainting
- Confusion, pale and cold
- Slurred speech
- Sweating profusely
- Rapid pulse shallow breathing
- Trembling limbs
What is the definition of asthma?
Narrowing of air passages in the lungs, during an attack muscles spasm and swell making it difficult to breathe.
What are the symptoms of an asthma attack?
- Difficulty breathing
- Difficulty speaking
- Wheezing
- Blueness of skin (cyanosis)
What is the definition of an allergic reaction?
The body responding to a foreign substance, often resulting in swelling of the face or airways.
What is an anaphylactic shock? What should be administered to help?
Airways become extremely inflamed, epipen should be administered immediately.
What are the symptoms of an allergic reaction?
- Pale skin
- Difficulty swallowing
- Pulse may be rapid/weak/irregular
- Rashes
What is the definition of a burn/scald?
Damage caused to various skin layers by contact with hot, cold, chemical or other aggressive agents.
What are the three types of burn?
Superficial burn
Partial thickness burn
Full thickness burn
What is a superficial burn? What are the effects?
Burns on the outer layer of the skin
- Skin will redden
- Swelling and tenderness
What is a partial thickness burn? What are the effects?
Burns on several layers of the skin
- Raw and blistered skin
- Requires medical attention
+10% causes shock
+50% can be fatal
What is a full thickness burn? What are the effects?
Burns on all layers of the skin
- Affects nerves, muscles and fat
- Requires medical attention and specialist treatment
What is the definition of a bleeding/wound?
Abnormal break in the skin/body surface.
What are the two types of wounds?
Open - break in the skin through which blood or other body fluids may escape
Closed - blood escapes from the circulatory system but is not externally visible (internal bleeding)
What are the three types of bleed?
Arterial bleed
Venous bleed
Capillary bleed
What is an arterial bleed?
- Arteries carry oxygenated blood, therefore the bleed is bright red
- Dangerous as it can quickly empty the circulation blood
What is a venous bleed?
- Veins carry deoxygenated blood, therefore the bleed is dark red
- Severed main vein would result in large blood gush
What is a capillary bleed?
- Capillaries join veins and arteries
- Ruptures beneath skin causes bleeding into tissue (bruise)
What are the symptoms of bleeding/ a wound (6)?
- Rise in temperature
- Nausea and vomiting
- Cyanosis
- Pale, cold clammy skin
- Thirst
- Shallow, rapid breathing
What is the definition of hyperventilation?
Casualty is over-breathing - Too much oxygen is being taken in therefore washing out C02.
What are the symptoms of hyperventilation?
- Tingling and spasms in hands and feet
- Light-headedness or fainting
- Flushed skin
- Possible collapse
What is meant by managing rest? How does this effect aircrew?
The circadian rhythm is a natural 24-hour cycle; consisting of two ‘sleepy’ periods.
Aircrew work may cause disruption to this cycle meaning you must be alert during your ‘sleepy’ periods.
What is the definition of jet lag?
Physical and mental symptoms which occur after journeys in which several time zones have been crossed. It typically takes the body one day to recover from each time zone crossed.
What are some techniques advised to minimise disruptions to your daily 24-hour cycle?
- Sleep as much during 24 hours on a trip as you would during a normal 24 hour period
- Take naps (2 hours will allow for one cycle of deep sleep)
- Eat sensibly and drink a lot of fluid
- Request a quiet hotel room
What is the definition of hypoxia? What are its effects?
Lack of oxygen to the brain
- Impaired judgement
- Euphoria (confusion)
What are the symptoms of hypoxia (6)?
- Cyanosis
- Dizziness
- Increased breathing rate
- Impaired vision
- Slurred speech
- Possible unconsciousness
What are the three stages of hypoxia? When do these occur?
10,000 ft - MILD
14,000 ft - ADVANCED
20,000 ft - EXTREME
What are the symptoms of mild hypoxia?
- Headaches
- Yawning
- Occasional deep breathes
What are the symptoms of advanced hypoxia?
- Headaches
- Tiredness
- Blurred vision
- Loss of muscular coordination
- Possible personality change
What are the symptoms of extreme hypoxia?
- Convulsions
- Coma
- Collapse
- Possible death
What factors may effect hypoxia (6)?
- Altitude
- Rate of descent
- Physical fitness/activity
- Alcohol/smoking
- Environmental temp
- Medical conditions
How do you care for someone suffering with hypoxia?
- Descend to a safe altitude (below 10,000 ft)
- Inhaling oxygen (15 seconds)
What is the TUC at certain altitudes?
Time of Useful Consciousness
15,000 ft - 30+ minutes
25,000 ft - 2/3 minutes
30,000 ft - 1/2 minutes
35,000 ft - 30/50 seconds
40,000 ft - 18 seconds
What two types of disparism may a passenger experience during flight?
- Ear barotrauma:
Air trapped in inner ear expands by 30% and escapes through the eustachian tube. If this is blocked due to swelling or mucus the expanding air will build pressure against the eardrum causing pain/discomfort. - Pulmonary barotrauma:
Pressure rises in the lungs, resulting in rupture of the alveolar. Air leaks into extra-alveolar tissue causing pain/discomfort.
