Although all drugs and medication, whether prescribed or over-the-counter (OTC), are evaluated for safety by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) before they are released for sale to the public, very few are evaluated as to their effect on performance in a flight environment; therefore, there is little scientifically proven insight about how any illness, medication, or habit will affect the pilot during flight. More and more data will be coming from the scientific community as a result of the recognition of human factors and flight physiology as an important part of safety. But studies are not necessary to prove what we already know from experience: These self-abuses will affect performance at one time or another.
is to self-diagnose and treat, and if that doesn’t do the job, then see the doctor.
Time spent avoiding the doctor can vary from a day to several weeks, depend- ing on how you feel. Taking old medications found in the home medicine cabinet can add to the problem. Another strategy would be to check with the doctor and get an opinion before you take any action. This is more scientific but somewhat unrealistic. Somewhere in the middle is good judgment with safe and prudent choices.
Colds and flus
Very universal conditions like colds and flus are commonly caused by viruses, which means there is no cure. Antibiotics do not cure viral infections as they can with bacterial infections. Time and allowing the body to fight off the infection is the most realistic course of events. Overuse of antibiotics can lead to bacterial strains resistant to antibiotics.
The symptoms of a cold or flu range from a simple sore throat and cough to generalized aches and pains, fatigue, headache, and congestion. Recall how bad you felt during your last cold or flu. Could you safely fly? Such symptoms, which are often limited to the respiratory system, are sometimes caused by bacteria; therefore, if symptoms don’t begin to clear on their own in a few days, seeing a doctor is the next step. Antibiotics could help in this situation.
Flus often have the same symptoms as a cold, if the flu virus affects the respiratory system; however, many fins are associated with the gastrointesti- nal (GI) tract with resulting nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps.
Sometimes these symptoms include a generalized malaise (achy, tired, “feeling rotten”—malaise). A common observation is that even after the infection is gone, you will still tire easily, have decreased endurance to be active during the day, and have little resistance to picking up another virus, which can start the process over again.
These same symptoms could be the result of other problems, such as a bacterial infection of the sinuses or throat, pneumonia, early appendicitis, colitis, etc. In most cases you will recognize whether or not your symptoms represent something more than a simple cold, for example, and you will base that conclusion on your previous experiences; however, if the illness is different from what you would expect, then seeking medical attention is advised.
For whatever reason, these are the variety of symptoms associated with those conditions for which some pilots will seek self-help. The marketing statements on the packages of OTC medications/drugs imply that they will clear up those symptoms and cure the problem. If you feel that you aren’t too sick, then it is very tempting to assume you’re okay as long as you can take care of the symptoms with these OTC medications. But now you have two strikes against you: the effect of the cold or flu and the unpredictable side effects of the medications, assuming you’re treating the correct illness.
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156 Self-imposed medical stresses
Hay fever
Hay fever affects just about everybody to varying degrees, depending on geo- graphic location and type of activities. Even though someone might not con- sider that he/she has hay fever (allergies), mild allergic symptoms are often thought to be caused by a mild cold. The significant difference between the two is that a cold is an actual infection and has additional symptoms such as fatigue and malaise that are potentially unsafe. Those who know (or think they know) that they have allergies or hay fever will often self-medicate, using OTC antihistamines to relieve symptoms, as suggested on the package. If you truly have hay fever as diagnosed by a physician, then you should consider other treatments, such as desensitization, to control the symptoms. Using OTC allergy medication and then flying is not acceptable or safe.
Headaches
Headaches in some form are common in most people, although some never have any. Headaches can be caused by many problems. If you know from previous experience what is causing your headache, then take the mea- sures you took before; however, if it is different or if you usually don’t have headaches, then a doctor’s evaluation is necessary. Because of the variety of causes, some being potentially serious, a headache should not be minimized in terms of significance. If simple aspirin takes away the headache, it might be insignificant. But if the headache doesn’t go away, see a doctor.
Injuries
Injuries that are not serious (minor broken bones, cuts, sprains, etc.) are often minimized by pilots because of their eagerness to fly. Arthritis and tendonitis, although not injuries, are experienced by many people as they get older. All are painful. In such cases, the diagnosis of arthritis is relatively apparent for the layperson. Persistent symptoms, however, are often an indi- cation that there is more going on.
A variety of OTC medications are available to treat the symptoms of pain of these and other conditions. Another problem with discomfort is that pain pills are often used with the thought that in time the cause of the problem will go away anyway and that relieving the pain will allow you to return to flying. This could be a setup for an unsafe situation because the injury or other source of pain might by itself compromise performance, such as if you are unable to put adequate force to rudder pedals, exert too weak a hold on controls, or have a restricted range of motion in reaching instruments. Fur- thermore, taking away the symptoms might mask the only signal the body has to alert you to a continuing problem.
Pilot’s attitude
There is a conflict between a pilot’s desire to fly and the willingness to accept that he/she might not be safe. That’s not to say that a pilot would knowingly fly if unsafe. A simple statement from a doctor saying that your medical con- dition shouldn’t interfere with flying might be misleading because many