Sleep Apnea-new FAA Guidelines - be prepared!
#21
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2014
Posts: 463
Most of the people I have seen nodding off are those flying AM's, PM's, and Red Eyes, all in the same 4 day rotation (a common schedule for many of us these days which destroys healthy circadian rhythm/alertness). Of course this was all downplayed by airline management and their lobbyist and ignored by the FAA to "preserve schedules and economic viability" leading up to FAR117. Only to have a lessor problem scrutinized to show "safety is our number one priority!"
#22
Pilot eating habits are surprising. Our job is tough on our circadian rhythms and eating patterns/habits. We are sedentary due to the nature of flying. But that having been said I still can't believe there are grown men in their 40s and 50s who will down 2-3 cans of Coke a day in flight. I'm sorry, that is waaay too much sugar at that age! That omelet breakfast looks fantastic, but did you read the menu where it said that they use 3 full eggs to make it? IIRC one egg yoke has ~80% of your recommended cholesterol intake for a day. etc. etc. It starts with good eating habits and a regular exercise routine.
Scientists get egg on their faces - Chicago Tribune
Cholesterol, defamed for more than three decades by nutritional science, subject of countless warnings to egg-craving Americans, has now been exonerated as Public Food Enemy No 1. The nation's top nutrition advisory panel has dropped charges against dietary cholesterol, recommending that it can no longer be considered a "nutrient of concern."
The new thinking: scarfing down cholesterol-chocked delicacies does not appear to significantly affect the level of cholesterol in the blood for many people. It won't spike the risk of a heart attack, if they don't also gorge on foods high in still-hazardous-to-your-health saturated fats and trans fats.
To which we say: Grrrrr. All those years of snubbing scrambled eggs! All those guilty gulpings of cholesterol-chocked grilled shrimp! All that angst, guilt, paranoia ... for what?
Current U.S. guidelines tell Americans to restrict cholesterol to 300 milligrams a day. But it turns out there hasn't been much scientific evidence lately to bolster four decades of dire warnings about cholesterol. Studies "were mostly historic, inadequately designed and insufficient in number" to make such a strong anti-cholesterol statement, University of Colorado medical professor Robert Eckel tells us.
Why did this conclusion take so many years? "It's just one of those things that gets carried forward and carried forward even though the evidence is minimal," Eckel told The Washington Post.
Cholesterol, defamed for more than three decades by nutritional science, subject of countless warnings to egg-craving Americans, has now been exonerated as Public Food Enemy No 1. The nation's top nutrition advisory panel has dropped charges against dietary cholesterol, recommending that it can no longer be considered a "nutrient of concern."
The new thinking: scarfing down cholesterol-chocked delicacies does not appear to significantly affect the level of cholesterol in the blood for many people. It won't spike the risk of a heart attack, if they don't also gorge on foods high in still-hazardous-to-your-health saturated fats and trans fats.
To which we say: Grrrrr. All those years of snubbing scrambled eggs! All those guilty gulpings of cholesterol-chocked grilled shrimp! All that angst, guilt, paranoia ... for what?
Current U.S. guidelines tell Americans to restrict cholesterol to 300 milligrams a day. But it turns out there hasn't been much scientific evidence lately to bolster four decades of dire warnings about cholesterol. Studies "were mostly historic, inadequately designed and insufficient in number" to make such a strong anti-cholesterol statement, University of Colorado medical professor Robert Eckel tells us.
Why did this conclusion take so many years? "It's just one of those things that gets carried forward and carried forward even though the evidence is minimal," Eckel told The Washington Post.
Enjoy that omelet and don't bother to make it without the yoke.
#23
Here's how I see the BMI:
1. Extremely Obese = Extremely Obese which is the BMI 40 the FAA is testing but remember the FAA was clear in 2013 they wanted to start with 40 and eventually test and treat everyone. 30% of people with BMI of normal and overweight have the targeted issue.
2. Obese = Doesn't work out OR buff and works out a lot, lifts weights a lot.
3. Overweight = Doesn't work out but eats well OR normal person who eats right and works
out often, especially on the bottom of that overweight scale. If you work out a lot you'll probably be in the mid to top of that scale.
4. Normal = Doesn't eat and doesn't work out OR runs marathons, which are surprisingly unhealthy.
5. Slightly Underweight = Near dead.
Basically if you want the near 200 year old BMI calculation to find you normal, don't work out. If you do work out you'll probably find yourself to be slightly overweight.
1. Extremely Obese = Extremely Obese which is the BMI 40 the FAA is testing but remember the FAA was clear in 2013 they wanted to start with 40 and eventually test and treat everyone. 30% of people with BMI of normal and overweight have the targeted issue.
2. Obese = Doesn't work out OR buff and works out a lot, lifts weights a lot.
3. Overweight = Doesn't work out but eats well OR normal person who eats right and works
out often, especially on the bottom of that overweight scale. If you work out a lot you'll probably be in the mid to top of that scale.
4. Normal = Doesn't eat and doesn't work out OR runs marathons, which are surprisingly unhealthy.
5. Slightly Underweight = Near dead.
Basically if you want the near 200 year old BMI calculation to find you normal, don't work out. If you do work out you'll probably find yourself to be slightly overweight.
Last edited by forgot to bid; 03-15-2015 at 08:51 PM.
#24
So it looks like almost every guy over 50 who does any type of red eyes, international flying will be in there considering it takes 3 triggers. >50. Male. Sleepiness with breathing pauses, which is everyone considering there is a minute pause between the inhale and exhale unless I'm missing something there. Or if he snores.
Never mind the ridiculous BMI that considers you overweight for working out and actually having some muscle on your bones.
Never mind the ridiculous BMI that considers you overweight for working out and actually having some muscle on your bones.
#25
New Hire
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Mar 2015
Posts: 4
Fully understand your sentiment. But I am not an AME, I have no influence on who gets referred, I had no influence on the FAA, and my interaction has been with pilots who have needed help with SI. The reality is there are going to be pilots who are identified as being at high risk for OSA, they are going to need to find a sleep physician who can ensure that the medical certificate is not placed in jeopardy. If that is what a troll does so be it.
#26
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2005
Posts: 202
Pilot eating habits are surprising. Our job is tough on our circadian rhythms and eating patterns/habits. We are sedentary due to the nature of flying. But that having been said I still can't believe there are grown men in their 40s and 50s who will down 2-3 cans of Coke a day in flight. I'm sorry, that is waaay too much sugar at that age! That omelet breakfast looks fantastic, but did you read the menu where it said that they use 3 full eggs to make it? IIRC one egg yoke has ~80% of your recommended cholesterol intake for a day. etc. etc. It starts with good eating habits and a regular exercise routine.
#27
Most obese people I know eat absolutely crazy and are sedentary in and outside of work.
#30
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2009
Posts: 5,113
You guys didn't think Age 65 was going to come without more rigorous medical standards, did you?
This rule feels like it was written by people like the OP, and I think it's designed to force most people into sleep studies, and treatment. How lucrative that must be!
On the other hand, it's an issue worth considering. I'd be curious to hear from someone that isn't a sleep specialist telling us what experiences they've had in this regard, whether it is indeed better to get out in front of this, and where the facilities are that will provide good treatment without artificially forcing pilots into treatment purgatory, etc.
This rule feels like it was written by people like the OP, and I think it's designed to force most people into sleep studies, and treatment. How lucrative that must be!
On the other hand, it's an issue worth considering. I'd be curious to hear from someone that isn't a sleep specialist telling us what experiences they've had in this regard, whether it is indeed better to get out in front of this, and where the facilities are that will provide good treatment without artificially forcing pilots into treatment purgatory, etc.
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