Extreme environments Flashcards
Review of how the human body reacts to living and moving in extreme environments
What is an extreme environment?
Insufficiency or excess of one or more stressors
What are examples of stressors?
Thermal energy, fluid availability, oxygen pressure, hydrostatic pressure, gravity, pollutants
How does movement influence stress?
Can stress the body, increase or decrease environmental stressors
How can stress by chronically beneficial?
Leads to adaptation/acclimation; heat therapy can increase CV health
What are behavioural responses to extreme environments?
Decrease rate of work, increase nutrient intake, add/remove clothing, use technology
What are thermal physiology responses to extreme environments?
Thermogenesis, skin circulation, sweating
How can heat stress acutely impact a body?
Causes physiological changes, leading to decreased human performance. Increases accident risk, decreases work capacity, decreases physical performance
How does altitude impact the body?
Sport affected @2100km, symptoms @2438km, serious symptoms @3000km
What are serious symptoms at altitude?
Respiratory alkalosis: increased breathing means less arterial content of CO2, changing chemical equilibrium
How does diving impact the body?
Decompression sickness: bubbles form in tissue/blood circulation
O2 toxicity: disrupts neural signalling and damages alveoli
Nitrogen narcosis: high partial pressure allows nitrogen into blood, causing intoxication
