Know the Facts about Aviation Medicine

In the world of aviation, we all know that before a pilot can only fly if they have passed all the health requirements that include eyesight requirements, within standard cardiovascular functions, healthy biomass ratio and no history of any seizure disorders. With the advancement of aviation, a branch of medicine is solely dedicated to the effects of flight on the human body.

Aviation Medicine Defined

This branch of occupational medicine is called aviation medicine and is dedicated to the health necessities of passengers and pilots because of the harsh environment when flying. Covering a broad range of responsibilities, aviation medicine Dubai covers from eye health to loss of bone and muscle density among astronauts. The responsibility for the safety of flight also rests on their shoulders like the aircraft maintenance technicians.

There are many risks associated with flying and the aviation medical specialists are partly responsible for ensuring that there is no risk associated with the flight. The duty of the pilot and his crew is to make sure that these risks are at minimum including the risk of health problems of the pilot and the crew. This is the specialization of aviation medicine Dubai. They have a wide understanding of the conditions during flight and how they affect the overall health and fitness of the crew.

Who Are Practicing Aviation Medicine?

There are two categories where an aviation medicine specialists fall - the military and the civilian. In the military, aviation medicine specialists are also called flight surgeons. They also have additional training aside from medicine and that is flying.

Medical specialists that practice aviation medicine to civilians are called Aviation Medical examiners and FAA certifies them. They can be regular physicians that handle examinations who are applying for pilot licenses. They can also be physicians who only handle aviation medicine. In Dubai, Synergy Integrated Medical Centre, for example, has a dedicated aviation medicine department in their center that is highly reputable and recognized internationally.

Potential Health Hazards in Flight Environment

There are many potential health hazards that the flight environment can cause, unknown to many and aviation medicine Dubai handles. Aside from the grumpy passenger complaining about legroom, flying has many health risks. Even with the modernization of aircraft with pressurized cabins, flight crew and passengers are more likely to be affected.

These illnesses are due to three major environmental factors:

Hypoxia or Lack of Oxygen

Although oxygen is manually added in the flight decks and cabins, still the oxygen content is not the same as in ground level. During the flight, the loss of cabin pressure will cause a drop in oxygen levels resulting in loss of vision and impaired judgment. Some may even lead to death. Smokers and those on prescription have low tolerance for even a small loss of oxygen in the air.

Pressure

The lower air pressure inside an aircraft has dangerous effects on the joints, in the blood fluids and even teeth. Most passengers and pilots always feel "tooth squeeze", which is a pain in the teeth and jaws because of the difference in pressure in the inside and outside of the plane. Others may feel painful sinus blocks, headaches and intestinal pains.

Dehydration

Since the humidity of the air inside the cabin is very low, people who breathe out moisture cannot recover them when they breathe in resulting to dehydration. It can affect the brain reaction time and can cause fatigue.

Thanks to the practice of aviation medicine, like what Synergy Integrated Medical Centre is practicing can reduce the risk of health conditions brought about by flying.