Fitness to fly Flashcards
Coronary arteries
Arteries of the heart
Heart attack
Blockage of a coronary artery, heart no longer receives enough blood/oxygen. Severe chest pain.
Coronary artery disease
Damaging and hardening of the arteries. Thickening of arterial wall and gradual reduction of diameter. Forerunner of heart attacks.
Angina
Chest pain during physical excersise due to coronary heart disease leading to reduced blood flow to the heart
Transient ischaemic attack
Transient blockage of arteries to the brain
stroke/cerebrovascular accident
perminant blockage of brain arteries
Blow out
Loss of arterial blood (bleeding) can also cause strokes and heart attacks
Risk factors for coronary artery disease
Family history of heart diseas, Smoking, elevated blood pressure, elevated cholesterol level, lack of excersise, high blood sugar levels, excessive body weight, stress.
Normal and acceptable blood pressure range
120/80
150-100
60-95
Sufficient regular excersise
Activity that increases heart/lung fitness, carried out at least 3 times per week, raises heart rate 1.5-2 times resting, for 20 ti 30 minutes.
Hypoglycaemia
Dips in blood sugar may be felt as shakeness, nervousness, cold sweating, faintness and increase in heart rate. Made worse by hangover, after effects of drugs, hypoxia.
Time to fly after donating one unit of blood
24 hours
RICE
Rest joint/muscle.
ice it.
compress area or joint.
elevate ideally above level of heart.
pregnant flying cut off
6 months/26 weeks
alcohol
Central nervous system depresant. Effects on decision making, judgement, and balance. Can also lead to dis inhibiting behaviour.
