Environmental Factors Flashcards

1
Q

Define altitude and humidity

A

Altitude - the height or elevation of an area above sea level
Humidity - the amount of water vapour in the atmospheric air

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2
Q

What happens if an athlete competes at high altitude

A

• breathing frequency increases
• blood volume decreases
• stroke volume decreases
• maximal cardiac output, stroke volume and heart rate decrease with altitude during maximum-intensity exercise

  • consider respiratory and cardiovascular effects
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3
Q

Define acclimatisation

A

A process of gradual adaptation to a change in environment (e.g. lower pO2 at altitude)

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4
Q

How long should you spend acclimatising for each of these altitudes:
1-2000m
2-3000m
3000+m
5-5500m

A

1-2000m - 3-5 days
2-3000m - 1-2 weeks
3000m+ - 2+ weeks
5-5500m - 4+ weeks

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5
Q

The three most important causes of increased core body temperature in athletes are:

A

• high and prolonged exercise intensities
• high air temperatures
• high relative humidity

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6
Q

Define and explain cardiovascular drift

A

Upward drift in heart rate during sustained steady-state activity associated with an increase in body temperature.

Reduced blood plasma due to water loss during exercise which means reduced stroke volume. To maintain CO HR has to increase.
1°C can increase HR by 10bpm

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7
Q

The effect of heat, humidity and the body’s thermoregulatory response on the cardiovascular system:

A

• dilation of arterioles and capillaries to the skin, leading to:
• increased blood flow and
blood pooling in the limbs
• decreased blood volume, venous return, stroke volume, cardiac output and blood pressure, leading to:
• increased heart rate to
compensate
• increased strain on the
cardiovascular system
• reduced oxygen transport to
the working muscles

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8
Q

The effect of heat, humidity and the body’s thermoregulatory response on the respiratory system:

A

• dehydration and drying of the airways in temperatures above 32°C makes breathing difficult, leading to:
• increased mucus production
• constriction of airways
• Decrease volume of air for
gaseous exchange
• increased breathing frequency to maintain oxygen consumption, leading to:
• increased oxygen ‘cost’ of
exercise
• high levels of sunlight increase the effect of pollutants in the air, causing:
• increased irritation of
airways, leading to coughing,
wheezing or asthma
symptoms

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9
Q

How to minimise the decrease in performance (due to heat)(pre competition):

A

• acclimatise to increased temperatures
• use cooling aids such as ice vests to reduce core temperature and delay the effect of high temperature and dehydration

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10
Q

How to minimise the decrease in performance (during competition):

A

• use pacing strategies to alter goals and reduce the feelings of exertion at low-exercise intensities
• wear suitable clothing that maximises heat loss, removing sweat from the skin rapidly, such as lightweight compression wear
• rehydrate as often and as much as possible with a hypotonic or isotonic solution that replaces primarily lost fluids but also glucose and the electrolytes (salts) lost through the sweat

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11
Q

How to minimise the decrease in performance (post completion):

A

• Cooling aids, such as cold towels and cold fans, aid the return of core body temperature gradually
• rehydrate using isotonic solutions that replace lost fluids, glucose and electrolytes

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