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What are the expected intial symptoms of hypoxia that could be encountered at an altitude of 12 000 ft or slightly higher?

  • A

    A loss of consciousness.

  • B

    A false sense of security, impaired performance.

  • C

    Difficulty in breathing.

  • D

    Sudden unconsciousness without warning.

HYPOXIA

Hypoxia is a medical condition where there is a deficiency of oxygen in the tissues and organs of the body. This can occur due to various reasons, including respiratory disorders, circulatory problems, or exposure to high altitudes. Hypoxia symptoms appear in stages depending on the cabin altitude. These stages are:

Hypoxia Stage

Altitude

Effects

Indifferent Stage/Zone

GL - 10 000 ft
  • Night vision is impaired as low as 5000 ft.
  • Performance of new tasks is impaired.
  • Heart rate and breathing rate increase slightly.

Compensatory Stage/Zone

10 000 ft - 15 000 ft
  • Increase in the respiratory volume.
  • Increase in cardiac output and blood pressure.
  • After a short time the central nervous system is affected causing: dizziness, false sense of security, impaired judgement and memory, reduced performance in tasks needing attention to detail or subtle movements.

Disturbance Stage/Zone

15 000 ft - 20 000 ft
  • Euphoria
  • Dizziness and sleepiness
  • Headache
  • Fatigue
  • Memory impairment
  • Reduced performance
  • Loss of judgement
  • ‘Grey-out’ and tunnelled vision
  • Eventually, loss of consciousness

Note: Loss of consciousness occurs at the final stage of hypoxia and is NOT an intial symptom.

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