Environmental Conditions Vocabulary

Question 1

acclimatization

Answer 1

when an athlete adjusts to a change in environment (change in temperature, humidity, or altitude), allowing them to maintain performance in the new environmental conditions

Question 2

acute mountain sickness

Answer 2

a headache with other symptoms including nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and dizziness/lightheaded

Question 3

basal Cell Cancer

Answer 3

a type of skin cancer that starts in the basal cells; often appears as a small slightly translucent bump

Question 4

basal cells

Answer 4

a type of cell within the skin within the skin that produces new cells as old ones die off

Question 5

conductive Heat Exchange

Answer 5

passive transfer of heat from warmer to cooler objects by direct contact

Question 6

convective Heat Exchange

Answer 6

the warming of air next to the body and the displacement of that warm air by cool air

Question 7

dehydration

Answer 7

a condition caused by the loss of too much fluid in the body

Question 8

electrolyte

Answer 8

chemicals that conduct electricity when dissolved in water

Question 9

evaporative heat loss

Answer 9

the process of losing heat through the conversion of water to gas

Question 10

frostbite

Answer 10

an injury to the body’s tissues caused by exposure to very cold temperatures

Question 11

heat cramps

Answer 11

painful muscle cramps and spasms that occur during or after intense exercise and sweating in high heat

Question 12

heat exhaustion

Answer 12

a heat-related illness that can occur after you’ve been exposed to high temperatures and is often accompanied by dehydration

Question 13

Heat Rash

Answer 13

a harmless but very itchy skin rash; causes small red spots in places where sweat collects (armpits, back, chest, groin, waist, elbow creases, back of knees, under breasts)

Question 14

heat stroke

Answer 14

a condition caused by your body overheating, usually as a result of prolonged exposure to or physical exertion in high temperatures; most serious form of heat injury

Question 15

heat syncope

Answer 15

a fainting episode or dizziness that usually occurs when standing for too long or suddenly standing up after sitting or lying

Question 16

high altitude cerebral edema

Answer 16

an emergency in which swelling of the brain occurs because of high altitude

Question 17

high altitude pulmonary edema

Answer 17

a severe form of high-altitude illness that if left untreated can lead to mortality in 50% of affected individuals

Question 18

high altitude headache

Answer 18

a headache, usually bilateral and aggravated by exertion, caused by ascent above 2500 m

Question 19

hyponatremia

Answer 19

a serum sodium level below 135 mmol/L that develops during or up to 24 hours after physical activity

Question 20

hypothermia

Answer 20

a core body temperature below 35C/95F and and occurs when total body heat loss exceeds physiologic heat production

Question 21

melanoma

Answer 21

“black tumor”; most dangerous type of skin cancer

Question 22

metabolic heat production

Answer 22

the heat released from muscle metabolism

Question 23

psychrometer

Answer 23

a device for measuring air humidity

Question 24

radiant heat exchange

Answer 24

a process where heat waves are emitted that may be absorbed, reflected, or transmitted through a colder body

Question 25

relative humidity

Answer 25

the amount of water vapor present in air expressed as a percentage of the amount needed for saturation at the same temperature

Question 26

rhabdomyolysis

Answer 26

a breakdown of muscle tissue that releases a damaging protein into the blood

Question 27

sickle cell trait

Answer 27

a person who has inherited the sickle cell gene from one of their parents

Question 28

squamous cell cancer

Answer 28

cancer that occurs in the outermost part of the epidermis (skin surface) or the surface of certain portions of the body (head, neck, genitalia)

Question 29

wet bulb globe temperature

Answer 29

a measure of the heat stress in direct sunlight (takes into account wind, humidity, sun angle, cloud cover)