Hypoxia????
 

This is my question... Why is it that sometimes when flying for fun I start to feel light headed? This usually occurs between 7-9000ft. I just dont get it... At work when flying I'm fine but as soon as a get into a GA aircraft and climb above 7k I get the light headiness which causes me to descend and the sensation goes away..... Has anyone else experienced this? :confused:

I'm not a medical professional, but hypoxia is not impossible. The FAA limit for flight without supplemental oxygen is somewhat arbitrary in that everybody will need oxygen at a different altitude. Maybe you just need it at an altitude lower than most people. Lots of things can affect it, vital capacity, smoking etc. I'm sure a health pro can add some more.

The military goes on O2 at 10,000.

I personally see serious cognitive degradation around 14,000. But I ski and hike in the mountains so I'm used to physical activity up to 10 or 12.

If you are inactive, overweight, and/or a smoker, mild hypoxia at 7-9K might not be unusual. My wife falls asleep much over 8.

Cardio exercise should help, and also check to see if you have an iron deficiency.

My comunity has had reported cases of hypoxia as low as 3,000'!

USMCFLYR

That's because Marines already suffer from brain damage.

HA! GOTCHA - it was a Navy guy. Marines just hold their breath for the entire flight!:p

USMCFLYR

go air force :p

Sounds like the guy's mask wasn't plugged in :rolleyes:

Might have been a contaminated On-board oxygen generating system too.
I don't remember the situation - but I remember reading the hazard report and being amazed that someone could be hypoxic in that situation.

USMCFLYR

I don't know how much is exercise and how much is predisposed. I have a good friend who spends the first couple days he's in the mountains practically bed ridden with altitude sickness. He's completed the Ironman in Hawaii and is in fantastic shape. On the other hand, I've experienced no symptoms while in great shape, or 30 pounds overweight as I am now up to about 9,000.

Exercise never hurts, but one of the other big contributors to hypoxia is dehydration. Make sure you're drinking tons of water. If I'm not running to the lav to take a leak at the end of each leg I'm not drinking enough water.