Cold climate. Acclimatization in cold climates. Human acclimatization in various climatic conditions. Change of time zones
Any trips associated with a change in climate zones can, as is known, cause poor health in a new place. This is especially true for people with poor health and, in general, all those who, in principle, do not tolerate sudden changes in weather conditions. So any vacation in a region with an unusual climate can be a source of not only pleasure, but also danger for the human body.
Human acclimatization is, in essence, a process of adaptation to changed climatic and geographical conditions, adaptation to new unusual environmental factors. A peculiar restructuring of the body occurs - the usual level of its balance with the external environment, which has developed in the conditions of a permanent place of residence, is replaced for some time (possibly for a long time) by a new one, adapted to a changed environment with a different climate. As if “pulled out” from a familiar environment human body forced to adapt to new conditions, restoring balance with the environment. And, naturally, such a process is not always easily tolerated by people. Even healthy people who are accustomed to various stresses in the first days after a change of place may feel some ailments, lose appetite, lose performance, and have problems sleeping.
This is especially true in extreme climatic conditions. Let's say a person from the Urals suddenly leaves for Peru or a hot West African country, for example, Cameroon. In the first case, he will have to endure acclimatization in high mountain conditions with low content oxygen and atmospheric pressure. In the second - acclimatization in conditions of an extremely hot climate, combined with high air humidity. Add to the climate change the change in time zones, and you get a not very cheerful picture of the first few days.
Acclimatization in hot climates
Most tourists are concerned about the issue of acclimatization in the hot climate, which prevails in popular resorts, where thousands of vacationers flock every season. This is understandable - I really don’t want my whole vacation to go down the drain because of possible problems with health. And they may well occur, especially in older people or those with chronic diseases, which traditionally tolerate climate change less well. The usual signs of difficult acclimatization for them are general weakness, headaches, sleep disturbances, disorders of the nervous and cardiovascular systems and exacerbation of chronic diseases, such as, for example, hypertension, rheumatism, etc.
In some countries with a hot climate, a person acclimatizes more or less calmly. The main factor in this case is dry air, when the human body gives off heat through sweating. Sweat evaporating from the surface of the body thus maintains the necessary thermoregulation. True, in extremely arid or, for example, desert regions, the irritant is the ubiquitous dust, to which a person, however, also adapts over time.
Another thing is countries where the hot climate is combined with high humidity and lack of wind. Here, sweat cannot evaporate as easily, which causes a disruption in thermoregulation. The consequence of this is overheating of the body, increased breathing and pulse, and decreased blood supply. internal organs and some others not so much pleasant phenomena. A person in such conditions experiences constant thirst.
In general, all these signs gradually soften and disappear during acclimatization, but many people are never able to fully adapt to such climatic conditions. Separately, it is worth saying that the process of acclimatization in hot countries with high humidity can lead to more serious consequences than a banal malaise. These are, for example, heat strokes caused by excessive overheating of the body, and heat cramps due to large losses through sweat mineral salts.
All this, of course, can be prevented by various preventive methods. This is, first of all, cooling and air conditioning in rooms, as well as the correct water-salt regime - you should drink to completely quench your thirst only after eating, and the rest of the time just rinse your mouth. As for meals, it is best to do this in the morning and evening, avoiding the heaviest hours of the day. In hot regions, you should wear loose and light clothing, and also indulge in cool showers and rest breaks. Of course, it won’t hurt to take with you on your trip and pharmaceutical products, which may be useful in a new place. These drugs can be antipyretic drugs - paracetamol, ibuprofen or diclofenac. Considering the frequent cases of fever and overheating in the first days, their presence in the travel first aid kit will be more than justified. Also, in some cases, Lavomax may be useful, suppressing the spread of the influenza virus, ARVI and hepatitis, which often await vacationers at resorts.
Acclimatization in mountainous areas
Sometimes it can be very difficult to acclimatize in the mountains, especially in high altitude conditions, for example, while traveling in the Andes. The main factors responsible for bad feeling in such an area, there is low atmospheric pressure and an insufficient amount of oxygen in the air, due to which a person at an altitude of over 2000 meters can develop oxygen starvation. When adapting to high altitude conditions, a person’s ventilation of the lungs increases, and the content of hemoglobin and red blood cells in the blood increases. Sometimes an increase in altitude leads to a person developing so-called mountain, or altitude sickness, caused by oxygen starvation. The symptoms of this disease are well known - rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, tinnitus, constant headaches and dizziness, nausea, general weakness of the body and some others. In this case, the patient should stop climbing the mountains, go down to a lower area and be completely at rest. As therapeutic measures- breathing oxygen and carbogen, warming the body with heating pads.
In order to mountain acclimatization passed without serious problems, you should adhere to several rules. Firstly, follow a special tactic for gaining altitude, not climbing more than 500 meters per day and staying at the achieved height for a couple of days, which, for example, can be varied with walks around the area and mountain villages. It’s trite - don’t rush to get up. The overall diet should be reduced, since in high altitude conditions digestion works worse, and preference should be given to low-fat and acidic foods. Also in this climate the body requires a large number of water (about 4 liters per day), and it would be a good idea to pamper him with hot food at least a couple of times a day. Among pharmaceuticals, which may be useful during acclimatization in the mountains, include multivitamins, enzymes, eubiotics and drugs that improve brain activity.
Acclimatization in cold climates
We can briefly mention the peculiarities of acclimatization in northern latitudes - after all, there are also many people who want to watch the polar lights or go on an Arctic cruise. In addition to the low temperatures that everyone is aware of, this region can also experience a lack of ultraviolet radiation (the so-called “light starvation”) and strong magnetic storms, which are not conducive to satisfactory well-being. Disturbed light conditions, for example, lead to insomnia. Other possible unpleasant moments- loss of appetite, fast fatiguability, drowsiness during the day. To facilitate acclimatization, it is worthwhile to organize your diet accordingly, eating more high-calorie foods than usual (15-25%). Constant use won't hurt ascorbic acid and other vitamins. Of course, it’s worth taking extra care of warm and windproof clothing. It is not recommended to indulge in alcohol in cold climates - here it only interferes with acclimatization.
In general, no matter how difficult the acclimatization process may be in certain climatic zones, with a competent approach and minimal knowledge, you can largely avoid its negative consequences, and your vacation will not end up being hopelessly spoiled by health problems.
The human body to new climatic and geographical conditions (mountainous areas, hot or cold climates, etc.).
Acclimatization is based on the body’s development of adaptive reactions aimed at maintaining its normal functioning in new conditions. environment(see Adaptation and maladaptation). A significant role in the process of human acclimatization is played by the organization of work and life, their adaptation to local conditions.
Acclimatization in mountainous areas . The main factors that negatively affect the body in mountainous areas are a decrease in oxygen concentration in the air and low barometric pressure, as well as high intensity ultraviolet radiation sun. In the process of acclimatization to these conditions, there is a compensatory increase in hemoglobin content and the number of red blood cells, increased pulmonary ventilation and an increase in cardiac output, a slowdown in blood flow velocity, a decrease in the level of basal metabolism, and more economical expenditure of energy resources.
Acclimatization to hot climate conditions . The main factors affecting the human body in hot climates are high air temperature approaching body temperature, significant intensity of solar radiation, high humidity of atmospheric air (tropics and subtropics), sharp fluctuations in ambient temperature throughout the day (deserts or semi-deserts). The process of acclimatization to a hot climate is accompanied by an increase in heat transfer due to vasodilation and increased sweating. At high temperature and increased air humidity, evaporation from the surface of the body is difficult, and therefore thermoregulation is disrupted. An increase in body temperature, increased respiration and pulse, and skin flushing with a relative decrease in blood supply to internal organs may be observed. These phenomena intensify with muscle load. Thickening of the blood is also noted with a decrease in the content of chlorine, potassium and sodium ions in it. A person experiences a feeling of unquenchable thirst and a feeling of constant body moisture. Significant air dust, usually observed in arid areas, leads to the formation of cracks in the lips, conjunctivitis and diseases of the upper respiratory tract. Gradually, sensitivity to dust decreases somewhat.
As acclimatization progresses, thermoregulation processes stabilize in accordance with temperature conditions, metabolism normalizes, and the appearance of tanning weakens the effect of excess ultraviolet radiation from the sun. However, in some cases (especially in people with impaired cardiovascular function), acclimatization may not occur for many years.
From pathological conditions, developing in hot climates, the most characteristic are heat stroke, heat exhaustion with symptoms of collapse and a slight increase in body temperature, heat cramps (with a large loss of mineral salts). To prevent these disturbances and accelerate acclimatization, adapting the work and rest regime to local conditions is of great importance. Thus, the working day in countries with hot climates usually begins very early and is divided into two halves with a long break during the hottest afternoon hours. Meals are moved to morning and evening hours. Of great hygienic importance are the landscaping and humidification of the territory, the latitudinal orientation of buildings under construction, the use of shutters and blinds on the windows, air conditioners, etc.
Acclimatization in the North . The main climate factors in the North that adversely affect the body are low ambient temperature (down to -60° in the winter months), disruption of light conditions (polar night and polar day), and ultraviolet deficiency. In the initial period of acclimatization in the North, a sharp change in the body's reactivity occurs. Thermoregulation under these conditions is carried out mainly by chemical means, heat production increases due to the acceleration of metabolic reactions, and the inherent to a given organism habitual level of balance with the environment. Then a gradual restructuring of adaptive mechanisms occurs. This process, especially in weakened individuals who are sensitive to fluctuations in meteorological factors (for example, atmospheric pressure, air temperature), as well as in children, is complicated by disadaptive meteorological neuroses, manifested by excessive fatigue, irresistible drowsiness in daytime hours, decreased appetite, sometimes shortness of breath. Violation of the usual light regime (day and night) can lead to insomnia and neurotic conditions (see Biological rhythms).
As acclimatization increases, the value of physical thermoregulation increases, the volume of circulating blood increases, the peripheral vascular bed expands, and the volume of blood flow in the extremities increases.
Acclimatization is the process of gradual adaptation of the human body to new climatic conditions. Acclimatization is based on the body’s ability to adapt (rebuild) to new conditions in order to ensure consistency internal environment(body temperature, blood pressure, metabolism, etc.). During the process of acclimatization, a person’s well-being deteriorates to a certain extent, fatigue appears and performance decreases. The more the climatic conditions of the new place of residence differ from the usual ones, than worse person prepared for life in new conditions, the more difficult and longer the acclimatization process takes place.
Acclimatization when changing place of residence is inevitable, since any organism reacts to changes occurring in the external environment and adapts to them. But different people acclimatization proceeds differently. It has been noted that healthy, seasoned people with good physical fitness adapt to new living conditions faster and with fewer deviations. In addition, more successful acclimatization is facilitated by a person’s ability to change their lifestyle, clothing, nutrition and bring them into line with new conditions, using the experience of local residents.
Therefore, you need to prepare for a vacation that will take place in other climatic conditions and try to do everything to help the body quickly adapt to new conditions. In order to increase the body's ability to quickly acclimatize, constant and intensive physical training long before the trip. Daily execution physical exercise, hardening procedures, running, skiing, participating in hiking trips - all this significantly increases the adaptive capabilities of your body.
Arriving at your holiday destination, do not rush to immediately get all the pleasures in one day, constantly monitor your well-being and capabilities, do not overload yourself with excessive exposure to the sun, excessive and repeated bathing, plan your loads wisely. Do everything in moderation. As an example, let's look at some features of acclimatization in different climatic conditions.
Acclimatization in cold climates
Acclimatization in cold climates, especially in the Far North, is associated with adaptation to factors such as low temperatures air, strong wind, violation of light conditions (polar night and polar day). Acclimatization here can last a long time and be accompanied by excessive fatigue, irresistible drowsiness, and loss of appetite. As a person gets used to new conditions, these unpleasant phenomena disappear.
Helps accelerate acclimatization in cold climates proper organization nutrition. At this time, your caloric intake should be increased compared to your usual diet. Food must contain the necessary set of vitamins and microelements. In cold climates, clothing must have increased heat-protective and windproof properties.
Acclimatization in hot climates
Hot climate conditions may vary. Thus, the subtropics and tropics are characterized by high temperature, humidity and solar radiation; for desert zones - high temperature, solar radiation and low air humidity. The beginning of acclimatization in hot climates may be accompanied by muscle weakness, palpitations, increased sweating. In hot climates, the likelihood of heat and sunstroke.
Heatstroke (a condition that occurs during general overheating and is characterized by fatigue, headache, weakness, dizziness) is most likely at high temperatures and humidity. Under these conditions, the heat exchange between the body and the environment is disrupted - overheating of the body occurs.
Sunstroke can happen if you stay in the sun for a long time without covering your head. The consequences of sunstroke are no different from the consequences heatstroke.
To avoid these and other troubles, it is important to adapt your regime to local climatic conditions from the first day. To do this, you should take a close look at the clothes and daily routine of the local residents. In hot weather, it is better to wear light-colored clothes made of cotton fabric, and wear a light white hat on your head. On a hot day, you need to be in the shade more often; during the hottest time (from 13 to 16 hours) you can sleep.
Don't tan too much. It is better to sunbathe in the morning with a gradual increase in the dose of sunbathing.
To acclimatize faster, It is very important to maintain a water-salt regime, which ensures a normal ratio between the amount of water and mineral salts entering and leaving the body.
You need to drink when it's hot not only to quench thirst, but also to compensate for the loss of water and mineral salts, which leave the body along with sweat. You need to drink slowly, in small sips. You can drink mineral water, tea quenches thirst well.
Let us draw your attention to a few general provisions to ensure accelerated acclimatization when changing climatic conditions. In the first days of your stay in a new place, do not overload yourself with various activities, especially if the trip was associated with a change in time zones. Give your body a chance to get used to new conditions during two or three days.
Keep drinking regime taking into account local conditions and the needs of your body. Don’t get carried away with local cuisine, you can try them, but it’s better to stick to your diet familiar products. Keep everything in moderation. Constantly monitor your well-being and physical condition. Do not do anything through force or without desire.
The main goal of your trip is not to set a record for something at any cost, but to explore the world and improve your health.
Test yourself
■ What is acclimatization and how does it manifest itself?
■ What factors primarily contribute to the rapid acclimatization of a person to new conditions?
■ What are the features of acclimatization in hot climates?
■ Are you physically fit enough to travel to a country with a hot climate?
After lessons
Consider how to avoid heat and sunstroke in hot climates. Write down your recommendations in your safety diary.
Consider the safety precautions that must be taken in cold climates. Select examples from popular science and fiction. Develop recommendations for yourself in matters of clothing, daily routine and nutrition in case you find yourself in places with a cold climate.
Additional material
Human acclimatization is the process of adaptation of the body to new climatic and geographical conditions. A significant role in the process of human acclimatization is played by the organization of work and life, their adaptation to local climatic conditions.
Physiological acclimatization consists of the body developing adaptive reactions aimed at maintaining its normal functioning.
Acclimatization in mountainous areas. The main factors that negatively affect the body in mountainous areas are reduced oxygen concentration in the air and barometric pressure. At an altitude of more than 2000 m above sea level, the partial pressure of oxygen in the air sharply decreases and conditions for the development of oxygen starvation. In the first period of acclimatization high altitudes in people there is a compensatory increase in the content and number, increased pulmonary ventilation and cardiac output (see). These changes are aimed at increasing the partial pressure of oxygen in the blood and are temporary. During the period of true acclimatization, the body's tissues and their enzyme systems adapt to functioning at a lower oxygen tension in the blood. A restructuring of tissue oxidative systems occurs, and the need for compensatory reactions from the blood, respiration, and circulation disappears. Therefore, permanent residents of high mountain areas (3000-4000 m above sea level) do not experience such significant changes that occur during the first rise to altitude. At high altitudes, especially with rapid ascent, it is possible to develop painful condition- mountain sickness syndrome (see).
Acclimatization in hot climates. The main factor that adversely affects the body in hot climates, in addition to high temperature, is increased air quality. At high ambient temperatures, heat transfer from the body occurs only through. In a hot, dry climate, the sweat released evaporates and thermoregulation is not impaired. Significant air dust, usually observed in arid areas, leads to the formation of cracks, conjunctivitis and catarrh of the upper respiratory tract. Gradually, sensitivity to dust decreases somewhat.
At high temperatures and high air humidity, evaporation from the surface of the body is difficult and thermoregulation is significantly impaired. There may be an increase in body temperature, increased respiration and heart rate, skin with a relative decrease in blood supply to internal organs. These phenomena are especially intensified during muscle load. Blood thickening is also noted with a decrease in the content of ions and sodium. A person experiences a feeling of unquenchable thirst and a feeling of constant body moisture. These phenomena gradually disappear, but in some people (especially those with deficiency) acclimatization may not occur for many years. As acclimatization progresses, the basal metabolic rate decreases (by 10-15%) and arterial pressure(by 15-25 mm Hg), the efficiency of sweating increases.
Pathological phenomena in hot climates can develop (see), thermal with symptoms of collapse and a slight increase in body temperature, thermal (with a large loss of mineral salts). To prevent these phenomena and accelerate acclimatization, adapting the work and rest regime to local conditions is of great importance. Thus, the working day in countries with hot climates usually begins very early and is divided into two halves with a long break in the hottest afternoon hours. Meals are moved to morning and evening hours. It is especially important: it is recommended to drink until your thirst is completely quenched only after eating, and in between - only rinse. Devices for air conditioning (cooling and drying) are important, and in arid areas - fountains spraying water, etc.
Acclimatization in the North. The main climate factors in the North that adversely affect the body are low ambient temperature (down to -60° in the winter months) and disturbances in light conditions (polar night and polar day).
In the initial period of acclimatization in the North, a sharp change occurs. Thermoregulation is carried out mainly by chemical means - heat production increases due to the acceleration of metabolic reactions, the usual level of equilibrium with the external environment inherent in a given organism is “shaken” (dynamic stereotype). Then a restructuring of adaptive mechanisms occurs. This process, especially in weakened people who are sensitive to fluctuations in meteorological factors (pressure, air temperature, etc.), can be accompanied by complications - disadaptive meteorological neuroses. They are expressed by excessive fatigue, irresistible drowsiness during the daytime, decreased blood pressure, and sometimes shortness of breath. Swelling of the intergingival papillae and bleeding of the gums may be observed - phenomena of insufficiency. Violation of the usual light regime (day and night) can lead to neurotic conditions.
As acclimatization progresses, the importance of physical thermoregulation increases - the volume of circulating blood increases, the peripheral vascular bed expands, and the volume of blood flow in the extremities increases.
People who acclimatized in the North, as well as local residents, can tolerate cooling longer (for example, holding a hand in ice water), they have a greater “liveness” of vascular reactions, due to which skin temperature is quickly restored after cooling. The period of complete acclimatization usually develops during the first year of living in the North; for elderly and physically weakened people - within several years. The development of acclimatization is facilitated by training the body to low temperatures, so acclimatization develops faster in hardened, healthy people. To speed up and facilitate acclimatization in the North, proper organization of nutrition, provision of appropriate clothing, compliance with hygienic standards for the maintenance of residential and public buildings, lighting, etc., establishing a work and rest schedule.
What is acclimatization?
Acclimatization - adaptation of the body to new climatic conditions; special case adaptation to natural factors.
Most often, acclimatization reactions have a hereditary basis and affect all regulatory systems of our body. The greatest tension of the reaction is achieved when a person finds himself in extreme conditions (extreme heat or cold, high mountains, etc.). Typically, healthy, trained people tolerate this process easily, although in the first days there may be a feeling of malaise, decreased performance, decreased appetite, sleep disturbances, etc.
For most people, their health and performance are restored in the future (after 5-10 days).
Only in some cases does full acclimatization not occur due to the weakening of the body’s capabilities. This usually occurs due to training, overwork or illness.
Taking into account the regularities of the acclimatization process, if you find yourself in a place with unusual climatic conditions, overload should be avoided in the first days.
Acclimatization can be divided into two main types
:
- to cold climates
- to hot climate
Acclimatization to cold climates
This type is associated with factors such as low air temperatures, strong winds, polar night with ultraviolet deficiency, etc.
The main signs can be considered manifestations of insomnia (on a polar day) or drowsiness, chilliness.
What to do to ease acclimatization symptoms
Firstly, you should increase the caloric intake by 10-15% compared to the diet for middle zone. After all, warming the body requires a large amount of energy.
Secondly, try to organize warm overnight stays for yourself. In this case, the same principle of heat conservation works. Only here it should be noted that it is during sleep that the human body is most unprotected, and accordingly, any freezing can only provoke a more pronounced manifestation of acclimatization symptoms, not to mention the possibility of simply catching a cold.
Thirdly, your clothes should have increased heat and windproof properties. To create the maximum warm air cushion around the body.
Acclimatization to hot climates
This species is more familiar to residents of the middle zone, because Most often we prefer to relax in warm regions. And therefore, many people know that this type of acclimatization is associated with overheating, excess ultraviolet radiation, and in the desert zone - with dehydration and loss of salts.
The initial phase may be accompanied by muscle weakness, palpitations, increased thirst, etc. Sometimes heat stroke and fainting may occur.
What to do to ease the symptoms of acclimatization
In warm regions, it is important to maintain an appropriate water-salt regime. After all, the higher the temperature, the higher the sweating. And the higher the sweating, the more water And healthy salts we are losing.
It is also necessary to maintain a sleep schedule. Only during sleep does the body, overloaded with heat, have the opportunity to fully recover.
And in order to avoid heat stroke, nausea and fainting, you should not neglect wearing a hat.
And don’t let changing temperatures become an obstacle to you getting positive emotions in other climate zones!
Author: Natalia Kay