You could also poke an eye out with a tool while up there.
-----Original Message-----
From: TowerTalk [mailto:towertalk-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Roger
(K8RI) on TT
Sent: Tuesday, January 6, 2015 3:48 PM
To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: [TowerTalk] Hidden danger in Tower Climbing
I had an article published on this as a pilot, but I'll try to keep it
oriented to tower climbing,
Something to think about when climbing!
I'd still be climbing except a stroke grounded me. I exercised and watched
what I ate. I felt fine. One day I turned around and stepped forward only
to have my left foot slip like I'd stepped on ice, but it was on the living
room carpet. No warning or advanced symptoms. As I waited for them to haul
me away I could feel my left side shutting down as I was able to do less and
less movement. I didn't know if I'd ever be back. Had I been on the tower
or piloting an airplane I would not have had time to get on the ground
safely.
We think of strokes as a malady that comes with age and deterioration and
"some" do, but a good percentage of strokes happen to much younger people,
not 50s or 60s, but even teens in high school and on up. They tend to be
more common with those who are healthy, active, and in their prime. They
are involved with sports that result in highly elevated
heart rates. Think of that first tower climb of the season when you
may be a bit out of shape. Think about being "up there" and losing the use
of an arm and leg on either side. IOW that side has become completely
useless. It's not just useless, it gets in the way. You can no longer hook
and unhook safety gear. You only have one arm and leg to use climbing around
guy lines. Let your imagination be your guide.
A possible warning that a person is prone to having strokes is a TIA, or
Transient Ischemic Attack. "Many people have them and never recognize them
for what hey are. Fingers or toes going numb for no apparent reason, losing
coordination, losing balance, having the vision in one eye temporarily go
bad, and Vertigo are a few "possible indications of a TIA..
There is a condition called Arterial Fibrillation.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atrial_fibrillation.
Although a little over weight, < 10#, I exercised and watched what I ate. As
I said, "No warning". One of my exercises was riding a road bike and I
could maintain 20 MPH which is fast for a non competitive rider in his late
60s. (67 to be more precise) for 10 miles, no problem. At 20 MPH my heart
rate would spike to ~140 after 3 or 4 minutes and then quickly drop back to
~130, or a bit less which is a good sign. The previous evening I had the
bike set up on a "wind trainer" in the shop due to weather. After riding
for about 20 minutes, I decided to see how fast I could really go. I hit 30
MPH for one minute which was all I could manage. I had a heart rate of 160 -
163. I had the stroke the next morning. The strokes can happen almost
immediately or a day later. When, if, and the damage done depends on luck.
They can be minimal, turn you into a vegetable, kill you, or worse, leave
you completely alert in a body that doesn't work, or communicate. A few
years ago a ham died on top of his tower near here.
They had a devil of a time getting him down. That one made the evening news.
With A-fib the heart loses its rhythm at elevated rates. It's likely I'd
never had the stroke ( The Doc agrees) had I not tried to test as my limit
as to how fast I coud go.. So when going up the tower, consider the shape
you are in. Over weight? Out of shape? No, or little exercise lately?
These all lead to a more elevated heart rate, but it's difficult to
clinically predict which healthy person is prone to having A-fib. In my
case the upper chamber was slightly enlarged. So slight that no one had
noticed over the years. HOWEVER The Doc tells me that is what caused the
A-fib with the elevated heart rate.
The heart loses rhythm, but usually restarts on its own (Not always).
Problem is that during A-fib the muscles sort of vibrates instead of
pumping. The blood pools and clots form. When it goes back to beating it
squirts out those tiny clots which may migrate to the brain. So, you head
up the tower, a bit over weight and a bit out of shape leaving you huffing
and puffing the last part of the climb. You might even feel a bit light
headed when you get "up there". Even if you are one of the unlucky ones
prone to have A-fib it's a crap shoot as to when or if and how bad.
Many, if not most hams I know are over weight and out of shape. Most of them
are quite a bit over weight and way out of shape. A flight of stairs has
them huffing and puffing. Thankfully most of them do not climb
Recovery is partly luck, determination, endurance, willingness to work
"hard" tolerate pain, and the highly important...attitude!
73, good luck, and climb safely,
Roger (K8RI)
>
--
73
Roger (K8RI)
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