Exam 3- Environmental Physiology - HEAT Flashcards
(118 cards)
What are environmental contributors to heat stress?
Primary factors
- air temperature, relative humidity, radiant heat
Also
wind, lack of wind, precipitation
what are other factors that contribute to heat stress?
- exercise intensity
- acclimatization
- fitness level
- adiposity
- protective pads
- illness
- medications
- clothing
- hydration level
- body fat
- age
how to estimate heat stress based on environmental parameters
- heat index
- wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT)
Heat index
composed of air temperature and relative humidity
– used by the national weather service; does not account for solar radiation (radiant heat)
wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT)
composite temperature used to estimate the effect of temperature, humidity,and solar radiation on humans ( temperature may be in either Celsius or Fahrenheit)
- development by the military
wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) calculation
( .7 Tw) + (.2 Tg) + (.1 Td)= WBGT
- Tw= natural wet bulb temp. (humidity indicator)
- Tg= globe thermometer temperature (measured with a globe thermometer (also know as a black black globe thermometer) to measure solar radiation)
- Td=dry- bulb temperature ( normal air temperature)
wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) classification of risk of heat illness
- very high risk: WBGTabove 28 C (82F)
- high risk: WBGT 23-28 C (73-82F)
- moderate risk: WBGT 18-23 C (65-73F)
- low risk: WBGT below 18 C (65F)
- see box 8.6 on p. 221 in getp for recommendations for modifications o activities for children in the heat
What are some focus areas of heat research
- general exposure
- exercise, sport, and recreation
- occupational ( military, spaceflight, or any other occupation defined by exposure to hot environments)
core Temperature
- regulated within a very narrow range of 35-41C ( 95-106F)
- normal core temperature = 37C ( 98.6F )
- Hypothalamus is body thermostat which contains the central coordination center for temp.
- thermal receptor in the skin provide input to the central control center
- *changes in the temp. of blood that perfuses the hypothalamus directly stimulate the area
- when metabolic heat generation exceeds heat loss, hypothermia may develop
general approaches to regulation core temperatures
- physiologic regulation
- behavioral regulation
Physiologic regulation
independent of conscious voluntary control
- rate of metabolic heat production
- body heat distribution via the blood from the core to the skin
- sweating
behavioral regulation
operates through conscious behavior
- modifying activity levels
- changing clothes
- seeking shelter
mechanisms of heat transfer ( applies to hot and cold temps)
1 radiation
2 conduction
3 convection
4 evaporation
what is radiation?
transfer of energy waves that are emitted by one object and adsorbed by another
What is conduction ?
transfer of heat from a warm object to a cooler object ( through direct contact)
what is convection?
heat exchange that occurs between a solid medium and one that moves in a fluid zed/ flow like manner) ( air)
what is evaporation?
heat transfer form the vaporization of water ( liquid to gas ) think of sweat
** only one of the 4 mentioned heat exchange mechanisms that only serves to transfer heat away from the body ( all the other can do both transfer heat to the body or away from it)
** each vaporized liter of water extracts 580 kcal from the body and transfers it to the environment
** water come fromt he 2-4 million sweat gland
( easier to evaporate heat when t is dry )
What are physiologic response to heat stress?
- cv system: dilation of cutaneous vascular beds and redistribution of cardiac output
- skin: sweat glands secrete sweat to cool the skin
- endocrine and urinary systems: fluid-electrolyte hormones retain water and NaCl via the kidney to offset sweat losses
- pulmonary: ↑ respiratory rate
Fluid Loss Dehydration
- sweat rate during mild to moderate work in warm to hot conditions .8-1.4 L*hr
- active individuals should drink at least 1 pint of fluid for each pound pound of body weight lost
- goal of drinking during exercise is to prevent excessive (>2% of body weight loss from water deficit) dehydration and excessive changes in electrolyte balance from compromising performance and health
what is the common amount of weight loss for athletes during competition or training
2-10% of their weight
what was the highest recorded sweat rate
3.7 l*hr at the 1954 S- olymipcs marthon
what impact of dehydration on endurance
- acute dehydration degrades aerobic performance, regardless of whole body hyperthemia or environmental temp.
- endurance capacity is reduced more in a hot environment than in a temp or cold one
- the greater the dehydration, the great the aerobic exercise performance decrements
what are the effect of dehydration on max strength and power production?
- small to moderate reduction in body weight ( -1% to -3%) due to water loss are not likely to have significant effect
- losses of 5% or more can be tolerated without a loss of max strength in some people
- sustained or repeated max exercise> or equal to 30sdeteriorate with moderate to severe dehydration ( -6% or more)
How does one determine his or her sweating rate?
nude or semi nude weighing before and after
- be sure to account for
- fluids drank
- exertion
- clothing containing moisture ( sweat )