Ex. Phys. Environmental Physiology

Question 1

basic human responses to environmental stressors

Answer 1

• the environment presents stressors that disrupt homeostasis in our internal environment
• each type of environment requires a unique set of adaptive responses
• people may lack or have sufficient hereditary abilities to adapt to any or all environments
• people vary in how they respond to the same environmental stressor, which produces different outcomes
• environmental stressors can positively or negatively affect a person’s ability to meet physical or psychosocial demands
• environmental stressors are strongly mediated by psychological factors
• -if the stressors are not viewed as harmful or alarming, they may produce small or even opposite physiological responses
• physiological responses to environmental stressors at times can be excessive, inappropriate, inadequate, or disordered
• physiological behavioral changes sometimes occur before an environmental stressor has been applied

Question 2

what is the necessary adaptation time to any environment

-time for deacclimation

Answer 2

8-14 days for most people
people
deacclimation within 14-28 days following removal from environment

Question 3

variation in how people respond to stressors

-depends on

Answer 3

bodies may show no strain, illness, or injury
depends on
-level of tolerance developed
-immune system competence
-age
-level of fitness
-number/intensity/type of previous exposures to an environmental stressor

Question 4

what are excessive physiological stressors exaggerated by

Answer 4

other diseases and disorders (heart problems, arthritis, renal function)

Question 5

thermoregulation

Answer 5

many adaptive responses to different environments affect thermoregulation
hypothalamus plays a large part
heat transfer mechanism

Question 6

hypothalamus functions

Answer 6

acts as a central monitoring system, but receives feedback from the peripheral system
sensitive to temperature changes in the blood
attempts to maintain a core temp. of 37C (98.6F “normothermic)
-too hot: hyperthermic
-too cold: hypothermic
initiates efferent feedback via the SNS to dissipate or conserve heat

Question 7

heat transfer mechanisms

Answer 7

radiation: direct transfer of heat
convection: fluid (air/water) movement over skin
conduction: contact with skin
evaporation: sweat vaporization

Question 8

exercise in the heat acute responses: how do you keep cool?

Answer 8

increases blood flow to skin via vasodilation of cutaneous arterioles conducts heat away from core to environment
sweating releases fluid to skin for evaporation
blood plasma volume typically decreases
retain H2O and NaCl via kidneys to offset fluid losses
hormones typically do not play a role in cooling

Question 9

results of exercise in the heat

Answer 9

core temperature increases

Question 10

what happens when humidity rises above 50-70%

Answer 10

effectiveness of evaporation decreases and skin stays hot (and flushed)

Question 11

exercise in the heat exercise/performance implications

Answer 11

as core temp increases, performance typically decreases (CV function, muscular endurance, metabolic function, CNS drive, etc.)
-maximal strength appears to be unaffected
other negative effects include dehydration, heat exhaustion, cramps, and syncope

Question 12

heat acclimation

Answer 12

sweating response improves: more sweat, faster onset, occurs at lower temperatures, more dilute to spare electrolytes
blood volume increases to lower exercise HR while maximizing skin blood flow
decreased core temperature (hopefully)
improved exercise tolerance (but dehydration is still a major hurdle)

Question 13

acute responses to exercise in the cold: how do you keep warm?

Answer 13

SNS initiates skeletal muscle tremors (shivering) and thyroxin released from thyroid to increase basal metabloic rate (BMR) and core temp.
increased blood flow to core via vasoconstriction of cutaneous arterioles concentrates and conserves heat around vital organs
decreased max HR and Q
decreased dissociation of O2 from Hb
skin and hair trap air and warm it to create a boundary layer of insulation
decreased blood plasma volume due to some evaporative cooling
retain H2O and Na+ via kidneys to offset dehydration

Question 14

cold exercise/performance implications

Answer 14

weight and awkwardness of clothes may conserve heat, but increase exertion
shivering increases VO2 at submax intensities and decreases motor coordination
decreased Q and O2 delivery with increased muscular demand increases reliance on anaerobic energy production, which shortens time to fatigue
increased risk of hypothermia and frostbite
increased risk of dehydration

Question 15

cool acclimatization

Answer 15

more efficient thermoregulation capabilities
greater reliance on FFA due to Epi and Norepi release from SNS
reduced skin blood flow increases venous return, which increases SV
lower lactate production due to glycogen sparing effect of FFA use
cold may actually ease exercise effort

Question 16

acute responses to exercise in thin air

Answer 16

O2 and CO2 relative proportions (%) do not change at higher altitudes, but air densities (quantity) (PO2, PCO2) decrease
resting and submax VE increase to maintain adequate Hb O2 saturation, which increases PAO2 and PaO2, decreases PvCO2 and PaCO2
decreases blood plasma volume and lower SV due to renal diuresis, increased VE, and increased evaporative cooling
increased resting and submaximal HR in order to increase Q and O2 transport to working muscles
reduced VO2max due to the aforementioned increases and greater reliance on glycolytic system

Question 17

altitude exercise/performance implications

Answer 17

VO2max begins to decline around 1500m with additional 3% losses every additional 300m in altitude, but O2 cost of exercise remains the same as sea level
-short duration (<2 min), high intensity exercise appears to be unaffected at reasonable altitudes
if altitude becomes too high, too little work is accomplished during exercise to be useful
decreased total body water increased the risk of dehydration
risk of AMS, HACE, HAPE at altitudes above 2400m

Question 18

altitude acclimatization

Answer 18

increased RBC density due to increased erythropoietin (EPO), which ultimately results in greater Hb levels of O2 loading and transport
increased 2,3-BPG: oxyhemoglobin curve shifts right (like the Bohr effect) to improve O2 unloading at muscles
decreased resting and submaximal HR
competition at altitude appears to be best improved
enough anecdotal and research evidence to back up the live high, train low philosophy
moderate elevations (1500-2200m) appear to be best for exercise performance and acclimatization