Chapter 13 - Human Overload and Underload. Flashcards
What is stress?
The unresolved pressure, strain or force acting upon an individual’s physical or mental systems and the human response
It is the body’s non-specific response (psysiological & physiological) to demands (pleasant or unpleasant), placed up on it.
What some features of stress?
It is a natural requirement of life
It is cumulative - different thing can add to stress levels
It is subjective - varies from person to person
What helps to reduce the stress associated with a particular stressor?
Experience
What are the 2 types of stress?
Eeustress - good stress:
Stimulates the body - increased energy to deal with stressor
Distress - Bad stress:
When the individual feels that events are out of their control & there is an inability to cope
What is physical stress?
Outside conditions either put strain upon the homeostatic mechanisms of the body or are so extreme as to nullify them all together
What is mental stress?
Perceived demands are greater than precise end ability to cope with them.
What does acute stress lead to?
Can be good for you
leads to the mobilisation of resources required to cope with the stressor
What defines acute stress?
Stress experienced over a short period.
What defines chronic stress?
Stress experienced over a long period of time.
What can chronic stress lead to?
Prolonged release of stress hormone which can cause wear and tear on the mind and body such as:
Dampened immune system
Raised cholesterol
Coronary heart disease
What are the different types of stressors?
Physiological - Hunger; Fatigue; lack of sleep.
Environmental - Heat; noise etc
Reactive - Rational & irrational fears; Internal conflict.
Organisational - Salary; lack of control; checks/tests/exams; career development; management issues; insufficient hands on flying; non-standard cockpit layout
Domestic/life - Death of spouse; separation etc.
What condition is associated with extreme cold and what are some symptoms?
Hypothermia
Affects physical and mental abilities; Body temp reduces to below 37degC; Shivering occurs to try to raise body T; Apathy; Severe damage to skin can occur (frostbite)
What conditions are associated with extreme heat and what can they cause?
Dehydration (Loss of water leads to further rise in body T)
Muscle cramps; giddiness; fatigue; Rapid increase in HR & need for more oxygen;Thirst.
Heat stroke
Coma
If blood T rises to 43DegC, death will occur
How long does the body need to acclimatise to hot and humid environments?
2 weeks
What is a comfortable humidity range for humans?
40 - 60%
What is the humidity in the cockpit usually and what negative affects can this cause?
5 - 15%
Irritated eyes if contact lenses worn
Can aggravate allergies or asthma
What should flight crew do to avoid dehydration?
Drink sufficient fluids during flight
What what temperature and humidity conditions are associated with best performance?
Warm and dry
What is a cognitive stressor and what are some examples?
A stressor that causes startling, alarm reaction and fight or flight response
Windshear on final
short of fuel
etc
What is an imaginary stress?
Anxiety or apprehension (what if?s)
The threat may not actually exist.
What is arousal in terms of stress?
A psychological and physiological response to stress related to the ANS.
A little bit is good
too much or too little is bad
What is general adaption syndrome (GAS)?
The fight or flight response
The reaction to real, perceived or anticipated threats
What are the 3 phases of GAS and what what happens during them?
Alarm - the body recognises the stressor and the ANS preps for fight or flight by releasing adrenaline and corticosteroids.
Resistance - PNS helps to recover from initial reaction by releasing cortisol to aid in converting fats to sugar to maintain energy supply to muscles
Exhaustion - eventual physiological depletion
What can Exhaustion lead to regarding GAS?
If no rest taken and it is allowed to continue it can result in death as the defence mechanism completely shuts down.
What are the 3 reactions of GAS?
Psychological - brain regulates fear, alarm or crisis
Psychosomatic - Brain triggers release of hormones, adrenaline and sugars in the blood
Somatic reaction - response of the various organs of the body to the hormonal and chemical releases
What is the break point?
The point at which is stress continues to rise, performance is degraded
What are the effects of overload?
Poor concentration
Poor decisions
Tend to rush tasks
Fixation
Regression
What emotional changes occur with overload?
one becomes irritable
Depressed/anxious
Nervous
What phsiological changes are associated with overload.
Perspiration/sweating
Dry mouth
Diffculty breathing/fast breathing
How can underload make a person feel?
too relaxed (causing you to miss threats)
bored
uninterested/unmotivated (decrease in effort)
What can underload cause?
Degradation of performance
Loss of situational awareness
Distraction from main tasks
Increase in errors
What are the 3 ways of coping with stress?
Action coping - removing the stressor
Cognitive coping - Rationalise or ignore
Symptom directed coping - treat the symptom and not the stressor
What 2 things should stress management include?
How can you cope with stress on the flight deck?
