Chapter 13 - Human Overload and Underload. Flashcards

1
Q

What is stress?

A

The unresolved pressure, strain or force acting upon an individual’s physical or mental systems and the human response

It is the body’s non-specific response (psysiological & physiological) to demands (pleasant or unpleasant), placed up on it.

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2
Q

What some features of stress?

A

It is a natural requirement of life

It is cumulative - different thing can add to stress levels

It is subjective - varies from person to person

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3
Q

What helps to reduce the stress associated with a particular stressor?

A

Experience

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4
Q

What are the 2 types of stress?

A

Eeustress - good stress:

Stimulates the body - increased energy to deal with stressor

Distress - Bad stress:

When the individual feels that events are out of their control & there is an inability to cope

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5
Q

What is physical stress?

A

Outside conditions either put strain upon the homeostatic mechanisms of the body or are so extreme as to nullify them all together

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6
Q

What is mental stress?

A

Perceived demands are greater than precise end ability to cope with them.

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7
Q

What does acute stress lead to?

A

Can be good for you

leads to the mobilisation of resources required to cope with the stressor

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8
Q

What defines acute stress?

A

Stress experienced over a short period.

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9
Q

What defines chronic stress?

A

Stress experienced over a long period of time.

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10
Q

What can chronic stress lead to?

A

Prolonged release of stress hormone which can cause wear and tear on the mind and body such as:

Dampened immune system

Raised cholesterol

Coronary heart disease

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11
Q

What are the different types of stressors?

A

Physiological - Hunger; Fatigue; lack of sleep.

Environmental - Heat; noise etc

Reactive - Rational & irrational fears; Internal conflict.

Organisational - Salary; lack of control; checks/tests/exams; career development; management issues; insufficient hands on flying; non-standard cockpit layout

Domestic/life - Death of spouse; separation etc.

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12
Q

What condition is associated with extreme cold and what are some symptoms?

A

Hypothermia

Affects physical and mental abilities; Body temp reduces to below 37degC; Shivering occurs to try to raise body T; Apathy; Severe damage to skin can occur (frostbite)

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13
Q

What conditions are associated with extreme heat and what can they cause?

A

Dehydration (Loss of water leads to further rise in body T)

Muscle cramps; giddiness; fatigue; Rapid increase in HR & need for more oxygen;Thirst.

Heat stroke

Coma

If blood T rises to 43DegC, death will occur

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14
Q

How long does the body need to acclimatise to hot and humid environments?

A

2 weeks

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15
Q

What is a comfortable humidity range for humans?

A

40 - 60%

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16
Q

What is the humidity in the cockpit usually and what negative affects can this cause?

A

5 - 15%

Irritated eyes if contact lenses worn

Can aggravate allergies or asthma

17
Q

What should flight crew do to avoid dehydration?

A

Drink sufficient fluids during flight

18
Q

What what temperature and humidity conditions are associated with best performance?

A

Warm and dry

19
Q

What is a cognitive stressor and what are some examples?

A

A stressor that causes startling, alarm reaction and fight or flight response

Windshear on final

short of fuel

etc

20
Q

What is an imaginary stress?

A

Anxiety or apprehension (what if?s)

The threat may not actually exist.

21
Q

What is arousal in terms of stress?

A

A psychological and physiological response to stress related to the ANS.

A little bit is good

too much or too little is bad

22
Q

What is general adaption syndrome (GAS)?

A

The fight or flight response

The reaction to real, perceived or anticipated threats

23
Q

What are the 3 phases of GAS and what what happens during them?

A

Alarm - the body recognises the stressor and the ANS preps for fight or flight by releasing adrenaline and corticosteroids.

Resistance - PNS helps to recover from initial reaction by releasing cortisol to aid in converting fats to sugar to maintain energy supply to muscles

Exhaustion - eventual physiological depletion

24
Q

What can Exhaustion lead to regarding GAS?

A

If no rest taken and it is allowed to continue it can result in death as the defence mechanism completely shuts down.

25
Q

What are the 3 reactions of GAS?

A

Psychological - brain regulates fear, alarm or crisis

Psychosomatic - Brain triggers release of hormones, adrenaline and sugars in the blood

Somatic reaction - response of the various organs of the body to the hormonal and chemical releases

26
Q

What is the break point?

A

The point at which is stress continues to rise, performance is degraded

27
Q

What are the effects of overload?

A

Poor concentration

Poor decisions

Tend to rush tasks

Fixation

Regression

28
Q

What emotional changes occur with overload?

A

one becomes irritable

Depressed/anxious

Nervous

29
Q

What phsiological changes are associated with overload.

A

Perspiration/sweating

Dry mouth

Diffculty breathing/fast breathing

30
Q

How can underload make a person feel?

A

too relaxed (causing you to miss threats)

bored

uninterested/unmotivated (decrease in effort)

31
Q

What can underload cause?

A

Degradation of performance

Loss of situational awareness

Distraction from main tasks

Increase in errors

32
Q

What are the 3 ways of coping with stress?

A

Action coping - removing the stressor

Cognitive coping - Rationalise or ignore

Symptom directed coping - treat the symptom and not the stressor

33
Q

What 2 things should stress management include?

A
34
Q

How can you cope with stress on the flight deck?

A
35
Q
A