Korean J Aerosp Environ Med.
2016 Apr;26(1):14-17.
The Analysis of Pilot’s Alcohol Drinking, Smoking and Medication in Life
- Affiliations
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- 1Medical Services, Asiana Airlines, Seoul, Korea
Abstract
- Purpose
Airmen’s health has something to do with safety flight. Alcohol and smoking contribute to hypoxia and some substance may have bad effects on pilot’s performance. AME try to reduce risk factors for airmen’s health and let them use appropriate medicines for their disease. Methods: This study was done by analysis of Airmen’s Medical Certificate of one airline company reviewed by the Aerospace Medical Association of Korea from Jan. 1st to Dec. 31th in 2015. Especially airmen’s history about alcohol drinking, smoking, medicines and supplements was searched. Results: Total were 1,516 cases of 1,461 airmen (including 2 women). They are all 1st class Airmen in commercial airline. The number of alcohol drinkers and smokers were 1,038 (71%) and 212 (15%) each. Alcohol drinkers were 74~75% among in their 20s, 30s and 40s and 64% in 50s and 49% in 60s. Most of them consumed 2~3 glasses of alcohol a day. Smokers were most common in their 40s. The amount of smoking was most commonly 200 Brinkman Index (Max 495 BI). 365 (25%) of them were taking some medicines (including supplements). Statins (cholesterol lowering medicine) were used mostly and anti-hypertensive medicines, DM medicines, thyroid hormones and allopurinol (xanthine oxidase inhibitor) were in order. Supplements consumers were 37 cases and they were taking vitamins, folic acid, lutein, milk thistle, or squalene etc. Conclusions: The negative effects of alcohol, smoking and drugs can be exacerbated by the high altitude. There are some airmen with lifestyle disease. Some of them have to take appropriate medicine for their disease. AME guide airmen to have good habits for their health and to use appropriate medicine for disease including supplements and even their beverage. These will benefit airmen keep their long career.
