At 03:17 PM 1/25/2003 -0600, you wrote:
At 12:00 PM 1/25/03 -0600, Julia Thompson wrote:Robert Seeberger wrote:
> Along with his shuttle flights, Gibson underscored his familiarity with
> g-forces in flying high-performance jet fighters for 30 years. He took note
> of "greying-out", "blacking-out" and "GLOC" - short for "G-Induced Loss of
> Consciousness," drawing from personal experience. There is absolutely no
> risk of any of these sorts of conditions while riding roller coasters, he
> said.
Depends on how high the G-force is, and how low your blood pressure was to
begin with. If you have really low blood pressure, you might grey out for a
second or so when you hit a high G-force point in the coaster. (But then
you'll probably hit something a bit later that'll encourage the blood to run
*towards* your head, which will help balance things out before the end of
the ride.)
My normal blood pressure and temperature always ran low enough that the doctor or nurse would usually take them at least three times ("And hold it _under_ your tongue this time!") before finally writing the results down�, but I've never "blacked out" or even "grayed out", even in the ejection seat simulator . . .
(I did, however, last longer inside the altitude chamber without a mask than the doctor standing by outside the chamber: after about ten minutes, I still felt relatively normal, but he was about to have a fit imagining that I _might_ collapse at any moment . . . Shortly before the doctor ordered an end to the test, another guy from somewhere up north who had grayed out almost immediately after removing his mask passed me a note that read "Rednecks don't need O2. ;-)" Admittedly, had I been doing something more strenuous than just sitting there, I might not have lasted as long.)
_____
�If they want an above-normal reading, though, all they have to do is keep me waiting for two hours or so past the appointment time, then when they finally call me they tell me the doctor is running late and it will be yet a good while until I can see him, and all they called me for was to take my blood pressure . . .
--Ronn
I always have my appointments as early as possible to avoid that problem. Plus a nice paperback to read makes the time pass, although waiting room chairs always seem uncomfortable. But for some reason my BP has been up 20 points, for a whole year now. I get it checked again Wednesday, donating blood.
Kevin T.
Free time off from work!
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