We often talk about flights, but we have never wondered what causes a flight to the human body. The risks come from the environment, from mechanical stress and from exposure to cosmic radiation.
Earth's atmosphere fluctuates tremendously in its basic characteristics, depending on how far you fly from its surface. As you reach higher cores, the density of its molecules becomes thinner. As a result, we have lower temperature, lower oxygen, carbon dioxide and atmospheric pressure. If we fly up to 6-8,000 feet (2000 meters) a healthy body will only experience conditions from cold expoture, but in the short run it can perform a small flight without problems.
From 10,000 feet or more the problems multiply, as the lack of oxygen causes a reactive increase in respiratory rate. The body breathes oxygen and releases carbon dioxide with every breath, but in this case there is not enough oxygen to take in and it mainly eliminates CO2. Also at this height at each breath there are smaller intakes of CO2. The result is that the body has both oxygen deficiency and excessive lack CO2 . This situation in the short term causes tachycardia, rapid and short breath,sleepiness, disorientation and ultimately loss of consciousness from respiratory failure.
At higher layers as the atmospheric pressure decreases we have another phenomenon added. The water contained in our liquids, at such low atmospheric pressure, boils at body temperature. The limit that starts the problem is at 59.000-62.000 feet and is called the Armstrong limit. It is dangerous and particularly unpleasant, as the fluids include saliva in our mouths, or even tears in our eyes. This is why most regular fighters have an operational limit of up to 60,000 feet.
I hope this short article has caught your attention. If you are interested, it will follow two more parts, one on mechanical stress from gravity acceleration and one on the effects of ionizing radiation on passengers and aviators.
here !Part2. Discuss about mechanical stress
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@BACconcordepilot Oh yes the "Armstrong limit", same thing happens in propellers in submarine. The cavitation phenomenon is caused by boiling bubbles of water from low pressure in the tips on the blades. Imagine that, boiling water below 200 meters of sea. Isn't physics strange ?!
Luckily pressurisation and oxygen exists lol
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@Viper3000ad I was on Mount Charleston and the elevation is only 7,500. I thought it was 8000 feet. Well, when I went it was 70-75F. nice
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@Chancey21 yes that's true, we also exhale oxygen but with lower persentage. For example in CPR we inhale oxygen with 24% and exhale it to the patient with 19% . Inert gases like nitrogen have more significant part in diving (they form bubbles which can block blood circulation) What's why I didn't put them in the article. The main problem by the high altitude is resperatory alkalosis, but this is way more complex reaction for this forum.
Just a note: humans don’t just breathe in straight oxygen and breathe out straight Carbon Dioxide, the air is mostly nitrogen
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@ChiChiWerx Rightly so, of course there are many instances of damage where decompression is gradual. The helios airways accident in 2005 is a classic example.
Companies also do not take into account the problem with ionizing radiation. At least the crew should have dosing meters ,like those used by radiologists.
Even pilots overlook this long-term occupational hazard.
This is why aircraft that fly at high altitudes are pressurized.
@bogdanx ...
@Strikefighter04 Thanks. The life of an aviator is not easy at all, we forget how much technology has helped us.
T I love these.
@Thelegitpilot13 Thanks, I hope the other two pieces are equally interesting
@CrashFighter05 At least at sea level is warm, at 8000 feet you should have a very good jacket.
@PositivePlanes LOL :-)
@dimkal @chichiwerx
@JamesPlanesii @FlipposMc @Toxicgamer88
Being at 8,000 feet sucks when you've been at sea level your entire life. Trust me.
T, I love these informational forums
Sorry for the untitled tags, there is no category for "articles on flight". You can ask if you have any questions.