hyperventilation

Since symptoms of hypoxia can be different for each individual, the ability to recognize hypoxia can be greatly improved by experiencing and witnessing the effects of it during an altitude chamber "flight." The Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, provides this opportunity through aviation physiology training, which is conducted at the FAA CMI and at many military facilities across the United States.

For information about the FAA's one-day physiological training course with altitude chamber and vertigo demonstrations, visit the FAA website, www.faa.gov/pilots/training/airman_education/aerospace_physiology/hyp index.cfm. Hyperventilation.

Hyperventilation is the excessive rate and depth of respiration leading to abnormal loss of carbon dioxide from the blood.

This condition occurs more often among pilots than is generally recognized.

It seldom incapacitates completely, but it causes disturbing symptoms that can alarm the uninformed pilot.

In such cases, increased breathing rate and anxiety further aggravate the problem.

Hyperventilation can lead to unconsciousness due to the respiratory system's overriding mechanism to regain control of breathing.

Pilots encountering an unexpected stressful situation may subconsciously increase their breathing rate.