human underlay and overload and stress and stuff

Question 1

stress

Answer 1

natural and inescapable 
non specific response to demands placed on it 
2 forms:
eustress- good
distress- bad 

stress is cumulative- transfer between situations
how someone processes info can affect what stress they experience

Question 2

factors influencing stress

Answer 2

the stressor
personality 
environment 
physiological state
many things

Question 3

general adaption syndrome (GAS)

Answer 3

mechanism by which individual reacts to a perceived threat
triggered by ANS: sympathetic & parasympathetic branches
3 stages:
alarm reaction
resistance
exhaustion

Question 4

alarm reaction

Answer 4

controlled by sympathetic branches 
first presented with threat
adrenaline and cortisol released 
increased : HR , breathing, sugar level, 
slowed digestion
energy burst 

acute stress- short term

Question 5

resistance stage

Answer 5

parasympathetic takes over
body tries to return to normal by reducing amount of cortisol produced
stress situation ends= go back to normal
stress continues= stress hormones continue to be produced

Question 6

exhaustion stage

Answer 6

resistance carries on for too long without relief of waste products 
too much cortisol
don't have strength to fight stress 
get:
fatigue
depression
anxiety
burnout
decreased stress tolerance
possible hearing loss 
headaches and other stuff

chronic stress- long term

Question 7

adaption syndrome reactions

Answer 7

psychological: brain registers fear
psychosomatic: brain triggers release of hormones adrenaline and sugars into the blood
somatic: responses of various organs of the body to the hormonal chemical releases

Question 8

5 categories of stressors (stress stimuli)

Answer 8

environmental 
imaginary 
organisational 
life 
reactive

Question 9

environmental stressors

Answer 9

conditions put a straight on the homeostatic mechanism or nullify it completely
internal: hunger, fatigue etc
external:
temp- 20º comfortable
body temp=36.5º, <35 hypothermia (eventually coma & death), >37 hyperthermia (heat exhaustion and stroke)- body cant keep cool

vibration- body parts have different freq but avg resonant freq= 1Hz, things vibrate and cause distraction and pain

noise- impairs performance

humidity- normal= 40-60% RH, cabin= 10-20% RH

glare- causes visual fatigue

Question 10

life stressors

Answer 10

every day life stuff
add significantly to operational stressors
can arise from factors like: hunger, thirst, pain , lack of sleep
death of a spouse is a primary life stressor

Question 11

Reactive stressors

Answer 11

mental, cognitive
perceived demand exceeds perceived ability
stem from bodies reaction to specific events
examples
wind shear on final
short of fuel etc

Question 12

Organisational stressors

Answer 12

from company or organisation
include:
insufficient manual flying 
sim checks
pay 
medicals 
quick turn around pressure

Question 13

imaginary stressors

Answer 13

anxiety
excessive stress can lead to excessive anxiety
individual believes they have no control over events
prevalent in people with low self confidence
can affect individuals physiologically as well

Question 14

underload

Answer 14

too relaxed, bored, uninterested

causes: degradation in performance, loss of situational awareness, increase in errors

Question 15

overload

Answer 15

individual have limit, if exceed stress overload occurs 
affect safety in flight 
behavioural changes 
prone to errors
prone to bias 
omission 
unable to prioritise 
emotional 
mental blocks 
fixation

can reach a break point

Question 16

break point

Answer 16

break point’ is the point after which, if stress continues to rise, performance is degraded and more errors and accidents occur
may mean cant even perform moderate tasks,
have break down, panic attack etc

Question 17

Arousal

Answer 17

function of alertness, situational awareness, vigilance, level of distraction, stress and attention
how ready a person is to perform a task
can be over and under aroused

Question 18

stress coping

Answer 18

direct action: removing problem, altering situation, removing stressor
cognitive coping: situation cannot be changed, we rationalise e.g “I can do it” before an exam, reduce emotional and physiological impacts before an exam
symptom directed coping: remove symptoms only

Question 19

stress management

Answer 19

long term strategy
preventative- keep levels to a minimum
curative- reducing existing levels

health and fitness
relaxing
counselling techniques

Question 20

Fatigue

Answer 20

extreme tiredness from mental or physical exertion or illness

Question 21

short term acute fatigue

Answer 21

result of:
lack of sleep
long duty 
jet lag
low motivation
cured with sleep

Question 22

long term chronic fatigue

Answer 22

more difficult to recognise 
result of:
lack of physical or mental fitness
domestic or work stress
high workload 

subjective

Question 23

strategies to stop fatigue

Answer 23

in flight training
conversation
keep fit and healthy
sleep
eat balanced meals
caffeine- short boost

Question 24

fatigue risk management system

Answer 24

airline collect data and determine how fatigued crew are