FAA Medical Question

On Jul 17, 9:17*am, "vaughn" wrote:
"Mike Adams" wrote in message

.. .

If you have your own physical and it finds *something, you're obligated to
report it on the FAA medical application
form.

This is a classic case of unintended consequences from a perfectly
reasonable-sounding governmental regulation. *The requirement for medical
certification may actually make pilots, especially Commercial pilots, LESS
healthy because any visit to their private physician has the potential to ground
them and forever remove their livelihood. *It is hard to think of any other
group of workers with that type of potential bombshell hanging over their head.

Vaughn

I had a conversation about a related subject yesterday. This had to do
with recruiting healthy subjects in the 40 to 60 year old range for a
clinical trial. The principal investigator mentioned that about 1 in 8
of those who self reported themselves as 'healthy' failed to meet the
screening criteria and were referred to their primary care physician
or a cardiologist. This 'unintended experiment' more or less led me to
conclude most of us with class 2 or 3 physicals may only see an MD for
a regular check up as part of of flight physical, and that is probably
the first time many of us learn of an underlying problem.

The obvious exception of course would be eye examinations.

Some health problems are preventable -- there are better reasons than
a desire to fly as PIC to stay fit, but no matter what the reason,
just do it! (Full disclosure, I own Nike stock.)

I do agree some small number when learning of a problem from someone
other than a flight surgeon will try to hide it. If the uncovered
disease is cardio pulmonary messing around in airplanes around 10,000
feet without supplementary O2 is not smart and it would be a good idea
for a prudent pilot to know that.

For what it's worth I have no such problems, but have been persuaded
O2 and a bottle of 5 Hour Energy is a good way to stay safe at 10,000
feet at night. (Hey guys, Five Hour Energy has a lot less fluid than a
thermos of high octane coffee, and that makes the need for urinating
into a ziplock bag on a long XC less likely -- more than you wanted
to know, huh?).

On Jul 18, 8:31*am, a wrote:

This 'unintended experiment' more or less led me to
conclude most of us with class 2 or 3 physicals may only see an MD for
a regular check up as part of of flight physical, and that is probably
the first time many of us learn of an underlying problem.

Yep, describes me to the tee. 2 very serious conditions for me was
discovered during my medical. One as described in my prior post
extreme hypertension and another was pre-melanoma freckle on my back
that look like a freckle to me. Both considered silent killers since
I had no "symptoms" to complain about.

So, this pilot doesn't complain about the nuances of the medical
process.

Of course I now see a doctor once a year for my BP medication renewal
but even then it's less then an FAA medical review.

Originally Posted by

On Jul 18, 8:31*am, a wrote:

This 'unintended experiment' more or less led me to
conclude most of us with class 2 or 3 physicals may only see an MD for
a regular check up as part of of flight physical, and that is probably
the first time many of us learn of an underlying problem.

Yep, describes me to the tee. 2 very serious conditions for me was
discovered during my medical. One as described in my prior post
extreme hypertension and another was pre-melanoma freckle on my back
that look like a freckle to me. Both considered silent killers since
I had no "symptoms" to complain about.

So, this pilot doesn't complain about the nuances of the medical
process.

Of course I now see a doctor once a year for my BP medication renewal
but even then it's less then an FAA medical review.

As a nurse and pilot, I have been asked many times how to regulate b/p and cholesterol issues naturally, and the easy answer is to reduce fat/cholesterol and sodium in your diet. Sadly for many, thats not enough in large part to hereditary issues.

In my search to help these people, I have come across a supplement that lowers cholesterol, b/p, triglycerides, and manages blood sugar/insulin ratios. I tried this myself, sure that it must be a scam because it sounded too good to be true, as nurses and doctors are trained to be very skeptical about things like this. I have had very good results, and have started recommending it to my patients, friends and family. And they, too, are having great results with it. Even to the point of getting off their meds.

For about $2 a day. I am now a firm believer in this stuff, and will share the information with anyone and everyone, as who wouldn't want to change their health without meds and their side effects.

email me and i will be happy to share this info. with you.

Mary

"a" wrote in message
...
and that is probably
the first time many of us learn of an underlying problem.

Perhaps, but I don't know of any serious research that proves that the present
FAA medical certification system has any statistically significant role in
predicting/preventing incidents of sudden pilot incapacitation. (The system has
virtually no role in detecting declining judgement, reaction time, or flying
skills; that is why we have the flight review process.)

The obvious exception of course would be eye examinations.

How so? Actually eyes can get pretty bad before a person finally stops
compensating and seeks help. The same is true for hearing.

Some health problems are preventable -- there are better reasons than
a desire to fly as PIC to stay fit, but no matter what the reason,
just do it! (Full disclosure, I own Nike stock.)

I tended towards overweight until I finally got serious about being a glider
pilot. Then I took off the extra poundage and have been thus for the last 15-20
years.

I do agree some small number when learning of a problem from someone
other than a flight surgeon will try to hide it.

Agree with all above except the word "small".

If the uncovered
disease is cardio pulmonary messing around in airplanes around 10,000
feet without supplementary O2 is not smart and it would be a good idea
for a prudent pilot to know that.

True. You can buy a blood oxygen tester for under $100.00 these days. (Knowing
your O2 saturation at altitude is important, but is still not the whole story)

Vaughn

..

On Jul 18, 12:28*pm, "vaughn" wrote:
"a" wrote in message

...

and that is probably
the first time many of us learn of an underlying problem.

Perhaps, but I don't know of any serious research that proves that the present
FAA medical certification system has any statistically significant role in
predicting/preventing incidents of sudden pilot incapacitation. *(The system has
virtually no role in detecting declining judgement, reaction time, or flying
skills; that is why we have the flight review process.)

The obvious exception of course would be eye examinations.

How so? *Actually eyes can get pretty bad before a person finally stops
compensating and seeks help. *The same is true for hearing.

Some health problems are preventable -- there are better reasons than
a desire to fly as PIC to stay fit, but no matter what the reason,
just do it! (Full disclosure, I own Nike stock.)

I tended towards overweight until I finally got serious about being a glider
pilot. *Then I took off the extra poundage and have been thus for the last 15-20
years.

I do agree some small number when learning of a problem from someone
other than a flight surgeon will try to hide it.

Agree with all above except the word "small".

If the uncovered
disease is cardio pulmonary messing around in airplanes around 10,000
feet without supplementary O2 is not smart and it would be a good idea
for a prudent pilot to know that.

True. *You can buy a blood oxygen tester for under $100.00 these days. *(Knowing
your O2 saturation at altitude is important, but is still not the whole story)

Vaughn

.

I have not attempted to find evidence that medicals prevent accidents
-- the research may not have been done. Not many accidents in GA have
medical/physical incapacitation listed as the cause, which does NOT
mean the medical certification is preventing such causes. There are, I
think we can agree, physical conditions that are not as much a cause
for concern on the ground as they might be in the air, but I have no
evidence as to how often the exam uncovers them.

I mentioned eye tests because some of us visit eye care professionals
at intervals different than we visit flight surgeons. I've already
learned my personal habits and findings are likely different than many
others who enjoy GA, but I based my comments on my experience and
those other pilots with whom I am friendly who pretty much fly like I
do (namely, the airplane is a business tool that can get us door to
door faster if the trip is less than say 800 miles faster than most
other ways.)

Good for you in deciding if you needed additional ballast you'd add
water rather than fat! There is some emerging analysis that tends to
suggest human life span in the US may stop extending and may in fact
contract with the increasing obesity and the problems that brings. We
were at a flea market at the Sate Fair Grounds in NC yesterday, and
came across -- I kid you not! -- a vendor offering chocolate covered
bacon!

What wine would go with that?

We
were at a flea market at the Sate Fair Grounds in NC yesterday, and
came across -- I kid you not! -- a vendor offering chocolate covered
bacon!

What wine would go with that?

Chuckle-

How about deep fried butter? Yep, I kid you not. There has been some for
sale there, in past years.
--
Jim in NC

On Sun, 18 Jul 2010 12:28:17 -0400, vaughn wrote:

I tended towards overweight until I finally got serious about being a
glider pilot. Then I took off the extra poundage and have been thus for
the last 15-20 years.

Hanging around pilots, many of whom are overweight, that face losing
their medicals is also rather motivating. At least, it has been so for
me.

- Andrew