Disturbing Homeostasis Research Paper

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Select only ONE of the following environmental stresses: (a) heat, (b) high levels of solar radiation, (c) cold, or (d) high altitude. Discuss specifically how this environmental stress negatively impacts the survival of humans by disturbing homeostasis. (5 pts)
Cold climates create stress on the body that disturbs homeostasis by lowering our normal core body temperate range of 97.6 ˚- 99.6˚ to subnormal levels. When our core body temperate declines to 94 ˚, we begin to develop a condition known as hypothermia. Hypothermia occurs when our hypothalamus is unable to keep our core body temperate stable and we reach subnormal levels of temperature; cold climate is only one cause of hypothermia. Once our temperature decreases to extreme levels of
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The Inuit would build specialized homes out of tightly packed snow bricks that prevented cold wind from entering, keeping warm air in and allowing them to build fires inside. Moreover, they made clothes and boots out of animal hide, also putting them on the floors and to keep warm. Their diets consisted mainly of protein and fats, which increased their body mass and allowed them to retain heat. The Indians of Tierra del Fuego had similar cultures to that of the Inuit, which were on the southern hemisphere and the Inuit were on the northern …show more content…
It also allows us to study the phenotypic expressions and cultural adaptations in relation to the environment (i.e. skin color, height, diet and homes). Furthermore, with this information we have been able to create technology that has helped us withstand and acclimatize to different sets of conditions. For example, when someone is about to climb a mountain such as Mount Everest, they need to bring the proper equipment and clothing for it. Before climbing, they must acclimatize at separate camps on the mountain by ascending to high altitudes during the day and returning to a lower altitude to rest. They also eat more carbohydrates and less protein and fats, drink around 1 gallon of water per day to help flush of the kidneys of bicarbonate from an increase in respiratory rate and use bottled oxygen tanks to compensate for the minimal

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