Week 12 - Altered Thermoregulation Flashcards
Range of altered thermoregulation arrow*
What is the hypothalamic set point? What may alter it?
37 celsius (normal body temp)
- fever
Why are fever and hyperthermia different?
- fever changes the thermostat
What type of conditions are hypothermia and hyperthermia? (2)
- pathological conditions where the body’s set point does not change
- Homeostatic mechanisms that keep the body at normal temperature are not working
What is the initial response to hypothermia? (2)
- muscle contraction to stimulate warmth (shivering)
- vasoconstriction to conserve heat or reduce heat loss
What occurs in prolonged exposure to heat loss? (2, 5)
- Peripheral tissue ischemia
- reduced perfusion
- Increased viscosity of blood in the smaller blood vessels - Failed vasoconstriction
- leads to increased vasodilation and accelerated heat loss (false sense of warmth)
What causes hypothermia? (3)
- excessive heat loss caused by external factors
ie. cold weather, not enough clothing, change in thermoregulation - Insufficient heat production caused by changes in metabolism r/t mds or alchohol
- Dysfunction of hypothalamic regulatory mechanism
What is the immediate response to hyperthermia?
- sweating
What is the prolonged response to hyperthermia? (3)
- prolonged (heat exhaustion)
- sodium loss
- dehydration
What is the SEVERE response to hyperthermia? (4)
- hypotension
- tachycardia
- Decreased cardiac output
- reduced perfusion and coagulation within the microcirculation and cardiovascular collapse
What are the mechanisms that lead to hyperthermia? (3)
Increased core body temperature
- excessive heat production
- Inadequate ability to cool
- Hypothalamic regulatory mechanisms
Which populations are are risk for altered thermoregulation? (2)
- older adult
- infants and children
What are the individual risk factors to altered thermoregulation? (6)
- Impaired cognition
- Medications
- Alcohol consumption
- Nutritional status
- Underlying health conditions
- Recreation or occupational exposure
