Environmental Conditions

Question 1

How does the body regulate heat?

Answer 1

hypothalamus regulated temperature when exercising in hot conditions;

• sweat response
• skin blood vessels vasodilation
• peripheral blood flow
• skin temperature
• ventilation
• core temperature
• heart rate/ cardio output/ stroke volume, blood pressure

Prolonged activity

• decreased blood volume
• decreased stroke volume
• increased blood pressure and blood viscosity

Question 2

How is heat loss? (heat conduction)

Answer 2

• conduction: direct contact. heat directly from one molecule to another though a sold, liquid or gas.
• radiation: occurs when heat is transferred from warmer body to cooler without touching.
• Convention: occurs when radiated heat is carried away from the body on air or water currents.
• evaporation: is cooling of body due to sweating.

Question 3

What is Humidity?

Answer 3

The amount of water vapour in the air, hight temperatures higher number of water molecules.
Heat plus humidity equal more discomfort for athletes. A hot humid day feels hotter than a hot, dry day because we can not sweat a effectively.

Question 4

What happens to an athlete in cold conditions?

Answer 4

Factors like length of time an athlete can be exposed to the conditions both for training and competition, or when and how much the athlete should eat and drink have to be considered as much by the skating or skiing coach as any other.
Physiologically, its more difficult for humans to adapt to the long term than to heat.
Exposure to the cold reduces the sensation of thirst and there is a reduced voluntary intake of fluids.

Question 5

Attitude

Answer 5

EDIT