View previous topic :: View next topic |
Author |
Message |
paddywak H Addict


 Joined: Mar 28, 2009 Posts: 537 Location: UK

|
Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2009 7:33 pm Post subject: Human performance question |
|
|
A passenger breathing normally and showing symptoms similar to hypoxia at a low altitude, is likely to be suffering from:
a. hypoxia
b. fatigue
c. hyperventilation
Does anyone think the question is incorrectly worded?
The answer is c. hyperventilation according to the answer sheet
But then surely the question should read :
A passenger breathing (abnormally) and showing.........
It is possible to be hypoxic at msl and also to suffer fatigue but difficult to hyperventilate without breathing being affected.
Any thoughts? |
|
Back to top |
|
rjc High Flying 'Torquer


 Joined: Jul 11, 2006 Posts: 189 Location: Cambridge

|
Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2009 8:45 pm Post subject: |
|
|
You sound like you are reading too much into the question, a trap I m trying to overcome too.
Hypoxia is generally low oxygen, caused by high altitude.
Hyperventilation is low a level of CO2 in the blood, caused by rapid shallow or deep breathing. The effect of hyperventilation is, in essence, the same as hypoxia. The low CO2 changes the blood chemistry and causes physical changes in blood vessels, restricting flow and so oxygen to the brain. You won't see the blue tinges to lips and fingers without true hypoxia.
You are adding more information into the question, which states low altitude - which generally will rule out hypoxia.
The question is trying to test your knowledge of the difference between the two, and hence how do deal with each situation. Taking the question as is, and not reading extra into it is key to some of the exam questions. The CAA love this kind of stuff.
Does that help?
{others, let me know if I have this totally wrong and set paddywak on the right path!}
RJC |
|
Back to top |
|
GlassMan Starting to 'Torque


 Joined: Aug 07, 2009 Posts: 35 Location: Puyallup, WA

|
Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2009 10:16 pm Post subject: |
|
|
The list of signs and symptoms mentioned in various medical references for Hyperventilation includes the 15 symptoms listed below:
Rapid breathing
Shortness of breath
Chest pain
Weakness
Dizziness
Tingling mouth
Tingling hands
Tingling feet
Numb hands
Numb feet
Blurred vision
Racing heartbeat
Tight hand muscles
Tight foot muscles
Faintness
The first one would tend to rule out "normal breathing". I say go with "abnormal breathing". _________________ Fixed wing spy ... But they only let me work on helicopters! |
|
Back to top |
|
chopperjockey High Flying 'Torquer


 Joined: Aug 15, 2007 Posts: 114 Location: Devon

|
Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2009 11:56 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Quote: | Does anyone think the question is incorrectly worded? |
I think the question was incorrectly answered...
Where did this question come from? Which question bank? I would complain to the question master because clearly it's not meant to be answer a. (hypoxia) because in the question it states at low altitude, no one would answer b. (fatigue) and likewise the answer can't be c.(hyperventilation) because in the question it states breathing normally.
Most questions have a list of four answers, what was answer d. because that must be the right one, having discounted the others...
I find it frustrating when trick or ambiguous questions are set and you then have to try and guess the least most wrong answer they want.  _________________ UK PPL(H) R22 S269 EN28 MD369 |
|
Back to top |
|
PilotWolf H Addict


 Joined: Sep 7, 2004 Posts: 1328 Location: Southern California.

|
Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 5:20 am Post subject: |
|
|
Whilst my previous occupation as a paramedic would also lead me not to answer hyperventilation you should be aware that someone suffering from a medical condition may not (and rarely does) exhibit all of the 'text book' signs (what you can SEE) and symptoms (what the patient is TELLING you), of the condition and in some cases none of them! In fact some one who has every symptom listed for a condition they suspect they are suffering from was usually treated with suspicion!
Hypoxia is actually insufficent oxygen supply to the (body) tissue. And can be caused by many things. We are assuming in the question, as it is flying related, that it is due to the low partial pressure at altitude. Without the question defining the type of altitude throws in more confusion - ASL or AGL? You could easily be at 500 AGL but 14500 ASL in some parts of the world. I would expect to see someone with hypoxia having some difficulty breathing too as the body tries to compensate for the lower oxygen levels (well actually it works on higher CO2 levels in most people but I don't want to confuse things even more!).
Hyperventilation is actually overbreathing (hyper- as in high) of which as a result the low CO2 (rjc mentioned), in the blood occurs.
My answer would be B. Fatigue.
W. _________________ In memory of Skippy the Dog - "www.pilotsnpaws.org" - RIP Scruffy.x |
|
Back to top |
|
chopperjockey High Flying 'Torquer


 Joined: Aug 15, 2007 Posts: 114 Location: Devon

|
Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 10:31 am Post subject: |
|
|
Quote: | Without the question defining the type of altitude throws in more confusion - ASL or AGL |
The fact that the word "altitude" was used in the question implies AMSL and not AGL since AGL would be worded as "height".  _________________ UK PPL(H) R22 S269 EN28 MD369 |
|
Back to top |
|
paddywak H Addict


 Joined: Mar 28, 2009 Posts: 537 Location: UK

|
Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 11:21 am Post subject: |
|
|
The paper in question was E-mailed to me by the school I am training with, they have data from previous CAA exams. I also use Air Quiz which I have found to be very helpful. Thanks for the replies, when I answered the question initially I chose (b. fatigue) as a process of elimination. I understand that they are testing knowledge between hyperventilation and hypoxia but they dont do themselves any favours. Never mind I havent taken the real paper yet so back to the books.  |
|
Back to top |
|
rjc High Flying 'Torquer


 Joined: Jul 11, 2006 Posts: 189 Location: Cambridge

|
Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 2:03 pm Post subject: |
|
|
paddywak wrote: | The paper in question was E-mailed to me by the school I am training with, they have data from previous CAA exams. |
Welcome the pot-luck of the CAA question bank! The good thing is that you find out about these things now, not when sitting the paper. |
|
Back to top |
|
paddywak H Addict


 Joined: Mar 28, 2009 Posts: 537 Location: UK

|
Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 9:50 am Post subject: |
|
|
It does seem to be that way rjc, I took the paper back to my school and quizzed the instructors and they all agreed it was a typo and it has now been amended to (abnormal). I took the paper yesterday for real but it has not been marked yet so fingers crossed, time to start reading the nav  |
|
Back to top |
|
WindSwept H Addict


 Joined: Sep 12, 2008 Posts: 500

|
Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2009 7:14 pm Post subject: |
|
|
paddywak wrote: | The paper in question was E-mailed to me by the school I am training with, they have data from previous CAA exams. I also use Air Quiz which I have found to be very helpful. Thanks for the replies, when I answered the question initially I chose (b. fatigue) as a process of elimination. I understand that they are testing knowledge between hyperventilation and hypoxia but they dont do themselves any favours. Never mind I havent taken the real paper yet so back to the books.  |
From my experience of CAA papers, they arn't all based on what is logical. Often the right answer appears to be one of the ones that 'could be correct' rather than the one that was definatly correct. |
|
Back to top |
|
paddywak H Addict


 Joined: Mar 28, 2009 Posts: 537 Location: UK

|
Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 7:36 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Yes, I agree with you there WindSwept, I have only passed three so far but they always seem to throw a couple of those in. Just got my paper back, 90% so its head down and on to the nav next. |
|
Back to top |
|
|